For the Twins to get where they want to go, their starting rotation must return to its early-season form.
Lefthander Tommy Milone gave them such an outing Wednesday as the Twins pulled out a 3-0 victory at Target Field. Milone dominated the White Sox once again, taking a 1-0 lead into the seventh inning before Trevor Plouffe, who broke a 0-for-19 skid earlier in the game, delivered a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh to add a little cushion.
The Twins kept the heat on Texas, which defeated San Diego 4-3 Wednesday, in the race for a wild-card spot as they won for the 10th time in their past 12 games. If they reach the playoffs, they can look back and savor how they got fat off the White Sox. They are 11-4 against them so far this season.
Milone helped take some heat off the bullpen with seven shutout innings. Twins starters entered Wednesday with a 4.17 ERA, 22nd in baseball. They posted a 5.41 ERA in August to slide down the league rankings. Milone's latest outing — in which he gave up three hits and struck out seven — was sorely needed.
"It makes a big difference," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "We've had to overextend guys because of the lack of innings we've been getting from our starters. So any time we get them out there through at least six, and hopefully seven, it is a good night for us. You've got to monitor your guys and evaluate."
But there might be another reason why they need the rotation to step up. Closer Glen Perkins' back flared up again before the game, and the Twins might leave him behind for treatment as they head out on a three-city road trip following Thursday's afternoon game against Chicago. One less reliever, a key one, will be at Molitor's disposal.
Milone went to the mound with a changeup that dropped out of sight and hit both corners of the plate with his fastball. He doesn't throw hard, but he knows he has to pitch inside effectively to succeed. Home plate umpire Lance Barrett's strike zone was generous on the outside corner and once Milone realized that, he worked over White Sox hitters, blowing some away with 87-miles-per-hour fastballs.
He's 3-0 with a 0.87 ERA against Chicago this season, and 4-0, 1.39 against them in his career.