video thumbnail

Diamond rings up second win of season

The Twins are scheduled to use a trio of young starting pitchers in their series against the White Sox this week. Tuesday, right-hander P.J. Walters set a high bar for rotation-mate Scott Diamond, who will get the nod Wednesday. Walters threw a complete game in the Twins' 9-2 win, their fifth victory in six games.

Diamond has pitched well in three starts since being summoned from the Minor Leagues in early May. He is 3-0 and has allowed just three runs in 19 1/3 innings.

Even against a tough White Sox lineup, led by Paul Konerko and Adam Dunn, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire is confident in Diamond, Cole De Vries, who will make his MLB debut on Thursday, and the rest of his young starters.

"Those guys have done well so far," Gardenhire said. "So just keep doing what they're doing. Doing what got them here and that's pounding the strike zone."

White Sox manager Robin Ventura will counter with Chris Sale, another young left-hander. Used as a reliever the past two seasons, Sale moved into the rotation this year and has pitched successfully.

In his start Thursday against the Angels, Sale struck out seven batters and allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings. The White Sox won, 6-1, but Sale wasn't satisfied with not getting out of the sixth inning because of his high pitch count.

"The most important thing is that we got the win," Sale said Thursday. "But I know my stuff, I've got to be better than that next time."

White Sox: Newly-acquired Hudson debuts in loss
Infielder Orlando Hudson made his White Sox debut in Tuesday's loss. Hudson came in to play third in the eighth and ninth innings. Hudson singled in his lone at-bat and scored on Konerko's RBI groundout.

Hudson is expected to play mostly third base with Brent Morel on the disabled list. He will also fill in at second base occasionally.

"Whatever they ask me to do, I'll go out and perform and help the ballclub win some games and bring some energy," he said. "Just have fun and play the game the way I know how to play."

Twins: Finding success on the road, Twins start to heat up
• The Twins are 5-1 on their current road trip, which began with a two-game sweep in Detroit. The Twins then traveled to Milwaukee, where they won a series against the Brewers and won the opener of their three-game set with the White Sox.

After scoring nine runs Tuesday, the Twins are averaging 7.33 runs per game on the trip. Having made more than a few trips to U.S. Cellular Field in his career, Gardenhire knows hitters can take advantage of the environment.

"The ball flies here," he said. "It's a good hitting ballpark, so you have to work ahead, be able to pitch backwards a little bit -- use breaking balls when you're behind in the count, mix it up."

• After homering Tuesday, first baseman Justin Morneau is one home run away from tying Torii Hunter for seventh place with on the Twins' all-time list. Morneau has 191 career home runs, all with the Twins.

Morneau has never faced Sale, but he has 10 home runs in 51 games at U.S. Cellular Field.

Worth noting
• White Sox first-base coach Harold Baines is attending his daughter's graduation and will miss his second straight game Wednesday. Minor league outfield instructor Daryl Boston is filling in.

• The Twins are 14-5 at U.S. Cellular Field in the last three seasons.

MLB.com Comments