Twins Take Over Wild-Card Lead

CHICAGO -- Jason Bartlett hit a two-out run-scoring single in the top of the ninth Friday night, and the Minnesota Twins took over the American League wild-card lead by beating the Chicago White Sox, 5-4.

Minnesota finished off its eighth win in 11 games when a fan interfered with first baseman Justin Morneau’s attempt to catch Jermaine Dye’s foul pop. First base umpire Andy Fletcher made the call for the final out.

The Twins lead the wild card by half a game over the White Sox, who fell to third place in the AL Central. Torii Hunter’s three-run homer gave the Twins a 4-3 lead in the sixth after they trailed 3-0 early. But Chicago’s A.J. Pierzynski led off the bottom of the inning with a homer to tie it.

Hunter started the ninth with a single against Mike MacDougal (1-1). Hunter was forced at second and after Jason Tyner hit back to MacDougal, sending pinch-runner Lew Ford to second, No. 9 hitter Bartlett singled to put the Twins up.

Jesse Crain (3-5) pitched two scoreless innings for the victory, and Joe Nathan got three outs for his 27th save in 28 chances.

Paul Konerko hit a two-run homer in the first, and the White Sox had another run cut down at the plate after taking a 3-0 lead in the second.

Minnesota’s Nick Punto hit his first homer of the season with one out in the sixth to cut the lead to 3-1. After Michael Cuddyer singled, Chicago starter Javier Vazquez was replaced by Neal Cotts.

Cotts yielded a single to Morneau, and then Hunter hit David Riske’s first pitch for a three-run homer to right, his 20th of the season and fifth against the White Sox.

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ROUNDUP

at Seattle 6, Boston 0: Jake Woods and two relievers combined on a five-hitter for the Mariners, who won for the third time in four games since ending a franchise-worst trip 0-11. The Red Sox lost for the seventh time in nine games.

at Cleveland 4, Detroit 2: Rookie Jeremy Sowers won his third consecutive start for the Indians, who handed Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman his second road loss this season.

Oakland 9, at Texas 3: Barry Zito took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning and earned his 100th win. The Rangers’ Mark DeRosa led off the eighth with a single to center field.

at Toronto 6, Kansas City 3: Rookie Shaun Marcum, who gave up nine runs in a 15-0 loss to Baltimore in his last start on Aug. 19, won for the first time in six games. Kansas City dropped to 46-84.

at Baltimore 4, Tampa Bay 0: Ramon Hernandez drove in a run and scored twice for the Orioles, who have won six of nine and dealt the Devil Rays their eighth consecutive road loss.