Win some, lose some

CHICAGO (AP) -- The way the Chicago White Sox celebrated after a two-run rally in the ninth inning, you would think they had done something more than just win a game in early July.

And they had: They found a way to beat the Minnesota Twins.

"We needed to win in it in the worst way," Chicago manager Jerry Manuel said after the 4-3 victory Wednesday night.

It was just the White Sox's second win in 12 meetings with the first-place Twins, who've singlehandedly driven Chicago way out of the race in the AL Central.

The Twins captured the first two games of the series, were 5-0 at Comiskey Park and had a 3-2 lead heading into the ninth, with closer LaTroy Hawkins looking for his eighth save of the season against the White Sox.

But Paul Konerko singled, pinch-runner Chris Singleton stole second, Herbert Perry hit a game-tying single and Sandy Alomar followed with a game-winning double after missing two bunt attempts.

"It seemed like the last two days we've been -- I don't want to say flat -- but I guess we've been trying too hard. It was working against us," Alomar said.

Just last week, the Twins rallied for four in the ninth at the Metrodome to beat the White Sox. And despite Wednesday's win, Chicago still trails by 11 games.

"We need to beat these people. In head-to-head games, you can lose ground quick," Alomar said.

The Twins had one runner cut down at the plate Wednesday night and botched a squeeze play that could have scored another, giving the White Sox a chance.

Hawkins was 21-of-24 on save chances, including the first two games of the series. This time, the White Sox got him.

"That happens to closers sometimes," Twins manager Tom Kelly said.

Keith Foulke (3-5) pitched a scoreless ninth and got the win.

Doubles by Cristian Guzman, selected to his first All-Star team, and Lawton put the Twins ahead 2-0 in the sixth against Mark Buehrle. Jose Canseco homered off Eric Milton to make it 2-1.

The Twins botched a squeeze play when Tom Prince missed a bunt and Torii Hunter was tagged out. Minnesota also had a run cut down in the eighth when Doug Mientkiewcz was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first on Lawton's double. Chad Allen followed with an RBI single for a 3-1 lead.

Carlos Lee hit a solo homer in the eighth off reliever Bob Wells to make it 3-2.

Twins starter Eric Milton, selected to his first All-Star game, allowed just five hits in seven innings and was on his way to his ninth victory before Chicago rallied.

Notes: The selections of Milton, Guzman and Joe Mays gives the Twins three All-Stars for the first time since Chuck Knoblauch, Rick Aguilera and Kirby Puckett were chosen in 1992. Milton, Mays and Guzman will all making their first All-Star game appearances. "I broke down and cried," Milton said after learning of his selection. ... Magglio Ordonez was chosen for his third straight All-Star game, and was the White Sox's lone pick. He's the first Sox outfielder since Harold Baines in 1985-87 to be selected in three in a row. ... Canseco's homer was his second since joining the White Sox on June 21 and 448th of his career. Canseco, not in the lineup the previous two games, said he needs to play to produce and get his timing down. "I don't do well playing two or three times a week. I went through that with the Yankees last year. I'm not a pinch-hitter," he said.

Wednesday

WHITE SOX 4, TWINS 3

MINNESOTA CHICAGO

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Hcking 3b 4 0 0 0 Drham 2b 3 0 0 0

CGzmn ss 4 1 1 1 JAVltin cf 3 0 0 0

Mntkw 1b 4 0 1 0 CNLee lf 4 1 2 1

Lawton rf 4 1 3 1 MOdnz rf 4 0 1 0

CAllen lf 2 0 1 1 Cnseco dh 4 1 1 1

Koskie dh 4 0 0 0 Knerko 1b 4 0 2 0

THuntr cf 4 0 1 0 Snglton pr 0 1 0 0

Rivas 2b 2 0 1 0 HPerry 3b 4 1 1 1

Prince c 4 1 2 0 SAlomr c 4 0 2 1

Clayton ss 3 0 0 0

Totals 32 3 10 3 Totals 33 4 9 4

Minnesota 000 002 010 -- 3

Chicago 000 001 012 -- 4

No outs when winning run scored.

E--Konerko (2). LOB--Minnesota 6, Chicago 7. 2B--CGuzman (19), Lawton 2 (20), SAlomar (7). HR--CNLee (14), Canseco (2). SB--Singleton (10). CS--THunter (2). S--Rivas.

IP H R ER BB SO

Minnesota

Milton 7 5 1 1 2 5

BWells 1 1 1 1 0 1

Hawkins L,1-2 0 3 2 2 0 0

Chicago

Buehrle 6 2-3 7 2 2 2 5

Glover 1 1-3 3 1 1 0 0

Foulke W,3-5 1 0 0 0 1 0

Hawkins pitched to 3 batters in the 9th.

PB--SAlomar.

Umpires--Home, Tschida; First, Reed; Second, Wegner; Third, Diaz.

T--2:51. A--22,934 (44,321).

Tuesday

TWINS 5, WHITE SOX 3

MINNESOTA CHICAGO

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Lawton rf 4 2 3 3 Drham 2b 5 0 2 0

CGzmn ss 3 0 0 0 JAVltin cf 4 0 1 0

Mntkw 1b 4 1 1 0 CNLee dh 4 0 1 0

Koskie 3b 4 0 1 0 MOdnz rf 4 0 1 0

CAllen dh 4 0 0 0 Knerko 1b 4 0 0 0

Przyns c 4 1 2 1 Liefer lf 4 2 3 1

THuntr cf 4 0 0 0 HPerry 3b 4 1 2 1

JJones lf 4 0 2 0 SAlomr c 3 0 1 0

Rivas 2b 3 1 1 1 Clayton ss 3 0 1 1

Totals 34 5 10 5 Totals 35 3 12 3

Minnesota 001 100 300 -- 5

Chicago 020 100 000 -- 3

DP--Minnesota 1, Chicago 2. LOB--Minnesota 3, Chicago 8. 2B--Pierzynski (17), JJones (13), Rivas (10), MOrdonez (16), Liefer (9), HPerry (16). HR--Lawton 2 (8), Liefer (9). SB--Durham (11). S--CGuzman, JAValentin, SAlomar.

IP H R ER BB SO

Minnesota

Radke W,9-4 6 1-3 11 3 3 0 3

BWells 1 2-3 1 0 0 0 0

Hawkins S,21 1 0 0 0 1 0

Chicago

SLowe L,3-1 6 2-3 9 4 4 0 0

Howry 2 1-3 1 1 1 0 3

Umpires--Home, Diaz; First, Tschida; Second, Reed; Third, Wegner.

T--2:36. A--17,964 (44,321).