In their first three games against the Chicago White Sox in this series, the Minnesota Twins have scored a total of one run. This is generally not considered a formula that is conducive to winning ball games, and the Twins will have to do better on Wednesday night at Target Field if they want to avoid getting swept.
The Twins have not scored since Luke Hughes' sacrifice fly in the ninth inning of the first game of Monday's double-header, having gone 18 consecutive innings without denting the scoreboard. Zach Stewart was perfect into the eighth of Monday's nightcap for Chicago, and Jake Peavy shut the Twins out on six hits on Tuesday night.
If the Twins want to avoid getting swept, they're going to have to solve Chicago left-hander John Danks (6-10, 4.01 ERA). Danks has not faced the Twins since May 4, a game he lost after allowing three runs on eight hits in eight innings of work in a 3-2 Minnesota victory. In his last start against the Detroit Tigers, Danks got lit up for eight runs on nine hits in just 4.2 innings as the Tigers pounded the White Sox, 8-1, on Friday.
Minnesota will counter with their "ace". . .such as that term goes for this team. . .right-hander Carl Pavano (7-11, 4.60 ERA). Pavano has pitched three times against the White Sox this year, averaging eight innings a start and posting a 2-1 record. On June 15 at Target Field, he went the distance for Minnesota, allowing just one run on six hits in a 4-1 Twins win. He followed that up on July 7 by going seven strong innings, allowing two runs on six hits in a 6-2 Minnesota victory. On August 6, he went eight innings, allowing two runs (one earned), but it wasn't good enough as the White Sox came out on top, 6-1. Pavano was victorious in his last start on Friday, as he went 6.2 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) as the Twins defeated the Los Angeles Angels, 13-5.
First pitch from Target Field on Wednesday night is scheduled for 7:10 PM Central time. Be sure to check out Twinkie Town while the game is taking place, and we will have the recap back here for you after things are finished.