MINNEAPOLIS — The winning run reached home plate to put the Twins back in first place, and Carlos Gomez and Denard Span still had plenty of energy to burn.
They raced from the dugout toward Alexi Casilla and tackled their teammate, in celebration of his 10th-inning single that capped a 7-6 comeback victory over the White Sox on Thursday night and gave Minnesota a half-game lead in the AL Central.
The Twins love to use their speed, and they ran circles around the wilting White Sox while sweeping this three-game series.
“They play their heart out. They show up to play against us this week, and the result was what you saw,” Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said. “They never quit.”
The White Sox led 6-1 after a six-run fourth in which Minnesota starter Kevin Slowey was knocked out with a bruised wrist and the Twins made three costly defensive mistakes.
“You think, ‘Oh, boy, there they go.’ But you know what? Not this ballclub,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.
The Twins host the Royals three times this weekend to finish their schedule, while the White Sox head home for a three-game series against the Indians. If these teams are still within a half-game of each other after play is completed Sunday, Chicago must make up a rainout against the Tigers on Monday. Then, if they’re tied, the Twins will have to travel to the South Side for a one-game playoff Tuesday to determine the division champion.
Save for that fourth, which Guillen called their only good inning of the series, the White Sox looked beaten all week. Missing Carlos Quentin (wrist) and Joe Crede (back) from their lineup didn’t help, but the rest of their sluggers contributed little.
