White Sox Take Twins In Ninth

Kip Wells called it one of the poorest starts of his young career. Still, it was good enough for the Chicago White Sox.

Wells held Minnesota Twins hitless for five innings, and Brook Fordyce delivered a two-run double in the ninth inning to give the White Sox a 3-1 victory over the Twins on Monday night.

Wells struggled with his control early, walking four and hitting a batter in the first four innings. He gave up two hits and a run in six innings, striking out four in his sixth major league start.

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"I realized I had a no-hitter going, and I thought it was funny because this was one of my worst starts," Wells said. "I didn't have good command, but I got enough pitches over where they were swinging and getting themselves out."

Fordyce's ninth-inning hit made a winner of Bill Simas (6-3), who pitched two scoreless innings. Keith Foulke worked the ninth for his ninth save.

Chris Singleton doubled with two outs in the ninth off Bob Wells (8-2). Wells then walked Paul Konerko and reliever Eddie Guardado walked Brian Simmons to load the bases.

Fordyce followed with his double off Mike Trombley.

The victory assured the White Sox of no worse than a share of second place in the AL Cntral.

"It was great to be able to contribute tonight," said Fordyce, who entered the game after starting catcher Mark Johnson left for a pinch-runner in the eighth inning. "We've gotten great pitching the last three nights and we gave our chance to finish strong."

The White Sox beat the Twins for the third game in a row, all three sparked by good starting pitching.

Wells gave up his first hit when Chad Allen singled leading off the sixth.

"I wanted to get Allen out most of all," said Wells, who has given up two runs or fewer in five of his starts. "He's a good hitter. I remember him from Texas A&M when I was at Baylor."

Allen moved up on an unusual balk Johnson was called for moving out of the catcher's box too early to receive a pitchout. He later scored on Corey Koskie's two-out single. Those were the only two hits Wells allowed.

"A number of our hitters had horrific swings at pitches out of the zone," Twins manager Tom Kelly said. "It was a poor effort on the part of our hitters. Very disappointing, but we've been disappointed before."

Twins starter Brad Radke allowed three hits and a run in eight innings. He walked four and struck out two.

Radke was masterful through the first four innings, allowing only a bloop single by Paul Konerko. He gave up his only run in the fifth, when he walked Konerko with two outs in the fifth and Simmons delivered an RBI triple.

The White Sox put two runners on base with one out in the eighth, but Ray Durham hit into a double play.

"I pitched a lot better than I thought I would," Radke said. "My arm is getting a little tired. I mixed up my pitches and kept the ball down. You can't win them all."

Notes

White Sox OF Magglio Ordonez left the game with a contusion on his left shin after fouling a pitch off his leg in the second inning. He was listed as day-to-day and the injury did not appear to be serious.

Bob Wells lost for the first time since April 18 at Cleveland.

Radke walked more than two for only the fourth time in 33 starts this season.

Minnesota's Brent Gates played first base for the first time all season.

The Twins are 7-18 in September.

The White Sox finished the season 13-6 on artificial turf.

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