Elred shows Twins why White Sox are winning

CHICAGO (AP) -- Cal Eldred's comeback season is going perfectly.

''He's a good story -- a guy battling back from injuries, and now he's on a winning team,'' Chicago White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said.

Eldred is a big reason the White Sox are winning. He won his eighth straight decision Wednesday night in Chicago's 7-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins. He is the third AL pitcher and second on the White Sox to reach 10 wins.

Teammate James Baldwin (10) and Toronto's David Wells (13) also have double-digit victories.

''It seems like I've mastered pitching like I'm capable of in the last 1-2 months,'' said Eldred, who was making his 16th start after just 15 last year because of injuries. ''You learn to be patient. You learn that it's a process.''

Frank Thomas hit two home runs to support Eldred. Thomas hit a three-run homer, his 19th, in the first inning and clubbed his 20th leading off the third for his 17th career multihomer game. Magglio Ordonez followed Thomas' second homer with his 17th, the ninth time the White Sox have hit back-to-back homers this season.

''I just wanted to set the tone early,'' Thomas said of his first-inning shot. ''We didn't need another letdown. They beat us up pretty soundly (Tuesday).''

Ordonez matched his career high with four hits, going 4-for-4, as the White Sox posted their 12th win in 16 games.

Eldred (10-2) is 8-0 with a 3.04 ERA -- 19 earned runs in 56 1-3 innings -- in his last nine starts. The winning streak is the right-hander's longest since he won a career-high 10 in a row his rookie year, Aug. 8-Sept. 29, 1992.

In '92, Eldred admitted he was ''giddy'' over his win streak. And now?

''I sit back and take it in stride,'' said Eldred, the ''old man'' on the young White Sox at 32.

Eldred gave up three runs on four hits and four walks over 5 1-3 innings, striking out five and overcoming a 36-minute rain delay in the second inning.

He departed with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth, leading 6-2. Butch Huskey hit a sacrifice fly off Bill Simas to make it 6-3.

MINNESOTA CHICAGO

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Cnizaro 2b 4 0 0 0 Drham 2b 5 1 3 1

Cmngs rf 4 1 1 0 JAVltin ss 5 1 1 0

Lawton lf 2 2 1 0 Thmas dh 4 2 2 4

Coomer 1b 3 0 2 1 MOdnz rf 4 2 4 1

Koskie 3b 2 0 0 0 Knerko 1b 4 0 1 0

Huskey dh 3 0 0 1 Snglton cf 4 0 1 1

JJones cf 2 0 0 0 CNLee lf 4 0 1 0

Hcking cf 1 0 0 0 Norton 3b 3 1 0 0

Moeller c 3 0 0 0 Frdyce c 4 0 1 0

Jensen ph 1 0 0 0

CGzmn ss 3 0 0 0

Totals 28 3 4 2 Totals 37 7 14 7

Minnesota 000 201 000 -- 3

Chicago 312 000 10x -- 7

E--JRyan (1). DP--Chicago 1. LOB--Minnesota 6, Chicago 7. 2B--Fordyce (5). HR--Thomas 2 (20), MOrdonez (17). SB--Lawton (16). CS--MOrdonez (2). SF--Huskey.

IP H R ER BB SO

Minnesota

Lincoln L,0-1 3 8 6 6 1 3

JRyan 4 6 1 1 0 3

Carrasco 1 0 0 0 0 2

Chicago

Eldred W,10-2 5 1-3 4 3 3 4 5

Simas 1-3 0 0 0 0 0

Wunsch 2 0 0 0 2 3

Howry 1 1-3 0 0 0 0 2

HBP--by Eldred (Coomer).

Umpires--Home, Meals; First, Young; Second, Klemm; Third, Miller.

T--2:52. A--17,541 (44,321).