Sam Deduno Controls His Twins Destiny

Sam Deduno will be given every chance to earn a spot in the Twins' starting rotation next year. But something has to change.

Twins Vs. White Sox Final Score: Minnesota Swept By Chicago After 9-2 Loss

Unable to play the role of the spoiler in the American League Central race, the Minnesota Twins came up short against the White Sox for the third consecutive time on Sunday afternoon in a 9-2 defeat.

Twins starter Scott Diamond was knocked around for six earned runs over just five and 1/3 innings to take the loss, while Chicago right-hander Jake Peavy put forth six strong innings of two-run ball to claim his 11th victory of the year.

After a solo home run in the first inning from the bat of Joe Mauer, the Twins could only muster five additional hits for the remainder of the day against Chicago pitching. Mauer's 2-for-3 performance on the afternoon pushed his season average up to .321, and now gives the talented slugger nine RBI during 10 appearances in the month of August.

Next up for Ron Gardenhire's Twins is a three-game set on the road at Progressive Field against the Cleveland Indians. Righty P.J. Walters (2-4, 6.70 ERA) will take the ball to open the series.

Head over to Twinkie Town for more Minnesota Twins coverage, and be sure to visit South Side Sox for more on the White Sox. Also check out Baseball Nation for even more news and analysis from around the league.

White Sox Vs. Twins Lineups: Joe Mauer Is Back In Lineup As Minnesota Looks To Avoid Sweep

Twins catcher Joe Mauer is back in the lineup after missing the first two games of the series with back spasms. He will bat third and play first base. Justin Morneau will be the DH, and Ryan Doumit will catch.

Adam Dunn and the Chicago White Sox continue their playoff push and look to sweep the Minnesota Twins.

Chicago White Sox:

1. DeWayne Wise, CF

2. Kevin Youkilis, 3B

3. Adam Dunn, 1B

4. Paul Konerko, DH

5. Alex Rios, RF

6. Dayan Viciedo, LF

7. Alexei Ramirez, SS

8. Tyler Flowers, C

9. Gordon Beckham, 2B

Pitching: Jake Peavy

Minnesota Twins:

1. Denard Span, CF

2. Ben Revere, LF

3. Joe Mauer, 1B

4. Justin Morneau, DH

5. Ryan Doumit, C

6. Chris Parmelee, RF

7. Trevor Plouffe, 3B

8. Alexi Casilla, 2B

9. Pedro Florimon, SS

Pitching: Scott Diamond

PITCHING MATCH-UP: Jake Peavy (10-11, 3.27) vs. Scott Diamond (11-7, 3.46)

TIME: 1:10 p.m. CST

TV: Fox Sports North

For more on the Twins, check out Twinkie Town. For more on the White Sox, be sure to visit South Side Sox.

White Sox Vs. Twins: Twins Turn To Diamond To Prevent The Sweep

The Twins came into the weekend looking to play spoiler to the White Sox, but they've lost the first two games of the series in lackluster fashion. Tomorrow will see Jake Peavy take the hill for the White Sox against Scott Diamond and the Twins at 1:10 p.m. ET.

Diamond wasn't very good in his last start, giving up ten hits as the Twins lost, 9-1, on Tuesday. Diamond typically gets lots of help from the offense though, as the Twins average a major league-best 7.22-runs per game that Diamond starts.

Peavy has dominated the Twins so far this season, as Minnesota batters are hitting just .135 against the White Sox hurler. He's been struggling since mid-July though, with opposing batters hitting .276 off of him since the All-Star break.

Sunday will be the last time in 2012 that the Twins and White Sox meet. Chicago currently leads the season series, 13-5.

For more on the White Sox, be sure to visit South Side Sox. For more on the Twins, check out Twinkie Town.

Twins Vs. White Sox Recap: Trevor Plouffe Homers, But Minnesota Loses

Trevor Plouffe hit a 2-run home run and the Minnesota Twins loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth, but the Chicago White Sox held on for a 5-3 victory Saturday.

Chicago led the entire game. Paul Konerko had a RBI-groundout in the first and then hit a 2-run home run in the third to put Chicago up 3-0. Gordon Beckham's RBI-single in the fourth made it 4-0.

Minnesota cut the lead to 4-2 in the seventh on a 2-run home run by Plouffe. The White Sox added another run in the top of the ninth on an RBI-single by Alexei Ramirez to make it 5-2.

The Twins loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning and got a run when Justin Morneau grounded into a double play, but the next batter, Plouffe, grounded out to end the game.

Francisco Liriano (6-11, 5.24 ERA) allowed 2 runs and struck out 9 batters in 7 innings to give Chicago its second straight win. Samuel Deduno (6-4, 3.84 ERA) took the loss for the Twins after giving up 4 runs and striking out 6 in 4 innings.

For more on the Twins, check out Twinkie Town. For more on the White Sox, be sure to visit South Side Sox.

Twins Vs. White Sox: Minnesota's Saturday Lineup Announced

Minnesota will trot out a familiar lineup to face former teammate Francisco Liriano when the Twins meet the White Sox at 12:10 p.m. CT at Target Field on Saturday.

A few of the Twins players weren't up with the team when Liriano was with the Twins. He was traded to AL Central-contending Chicago before the trade deadline.

Samuel Deduno (6-3, 3.55 ERA) is on the mound for the Twins (60-85). Chicago (77-66) enters today with a one-game lead over Detroit. The Tigers are in Cleveland with the first pitch scheduled for 3:05 p.m. CT.

Twins:

1. Ben Revere, CF

2. Eduardo Escobar, 2B

3. Josh Willingham, LF

4. Justin Morneau, 1B

5. Trevor Plouffe, 3B

6. Chris Parmalee, DH

7. Darin Mastroianni, RF

8. Drew Butera, C

9. Pedro Florimon, SS

White Sox:

1. Alejandro De Aza, CF

2. Kevin Youkilis, 3B

3. Adam Dunn, 1B

4. Paul Konerko, DH

5. Alex Rios, RF

6. A.J. Pierzynski, C

7. Dayan Viciedo, LF

8. Alexei Ramirez, SS

9. Gordon Beckham, 2B

P Francisco Liriano (5-11, 5.37 ERA)

For more on the Twins, check out Twinkie Town. For more on the White Sox, be sure to visit South Side Sox.

Twins Vs. White Sox: Francisco Liriano Starts For Chicago Against Former Team

A familiar face will be on the mound when the Minnesota Twins face the Chicago White Sox Saturday at 12:10 p.m. CT. Francisco Liriano (5-11, 5.37 ERA) starts for the White Sox against his former team for the second time since the Twins traded him in July.

Liriano pitched six innings and struck out eight, giving up 2 earned runs in a win over the Twins on July 31, although he didn't get a decision in the game.

Samuel Deduno (6-3, 3.55 ERA) starts for the Twins. Deduno lost to the White Sox on Sept. 3. He gave up just 2 runs in six innings in that game, but allowed 6 hits and 3 walks.

The White Sox enter the game leading Detroit by one game for the AL Central lead. The Twins enter tied with the Cleveland Indians for last place in the division.

For more on the White Sox, be sure to visit South Side Sox. For more on the Twins, check out Twinkie Town.

Twins Vs. White Sox: Chris Sale Continues Dominance Of Minnesota In 6-0 Win

Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Sale (17-6, 2.78) pitched six innings allowing no runs and striking out five batters as the White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 6-0 Friday. Sale is 3-0 with an ERA below 1 in three starts against the Twins this season.

Dayan Viciedo drove in the first two runs for Chicago without even getting a hit — he had an RBI ground out in the second inning and then walked with the bases loaded in the fourth. Alexei Ramirez had an RBI single in the sixth, Alex Rios had an RBI single in the seventh, Kevin Youkilis hit a solo home run in the seventh and DeWayne Wise drove in the final run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth.

Esmerling Vasquez (0-2, 7.53 ERA) took the loss after giving up three runs and striking out four in 5.2 innings. It was the best of his three starts he's made for the Twins this season. He previously had not given up fewer than four earned runs in a start.

With the loss and the Cleveland Indians' loss to the Detroit Tigers Friday, the Indians and Twins remain tied for last in the AL Central.

For more on the White Sox, be sure to visit South Side Sox. For more on the Twins, check out Twinkie Town.

White Sox Vs. Twins: Lineups Announced

The Minnesota Twins welcome in the Chicago White Sox for a three-game weekend series beginning Friday, as the Twins could alter the AL Central division race with the White Sox clinging to a one-game lead over the Detroit Tigers. Esmerling Vasquez (0-1, 9.35 ERA) makes his third start of the season for Minnesota, as he will face Chicago ace Chris Sale (16-6, 2.88 ERA).

White Sox.

1. Alejandro De Aza (L) LF

2. Kevin Youkilis (R) 3B

3. Dewayne Wise (L) CF

4. Paul Konerko (R) 1B

5. Alex Rios (R) RF

6. A.J. Pierzynski (L) C

7. Dayan Viciedo (R) DH

8. Alexei Ramirez (R) SS

9. Gordon Beckham (R) 2B

Twins.

1. Denard Span (L) CF

2. Jamey Carroll (R) 2B

3. Josh Willingham (R) DH

4. Justin Morneau (L) 1B

5. Trevor Plouffe (R) 3B

6. Darin Mastroianni (R) LF

7. Matt Carson (R) RF

8. Drew Butera (R) C

9. Pedro Florimon (S) SS

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. CT at Target Field.

For more on the White Sox, be sure to visit South Side Sox. For more on the Twins, check out Twinkie Town.

White Sox Vs. Twins: Esmerling Vasquez Looking For First Win For Minnesota

Esmerling Vasquez will look for his first win in his third start of 2012 when he faces the Chicago White Sox.