MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - The Chicago White Sox quest for a 10th consecutive victory was derailed by four errors as they slumped to a 7-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Friday.
Two White Sox errors in the fourth led to four Minnesota runs, only one earned, and broke open what had been a pitcher's duel between the Twins' Francisco Liriano and Chicago's Gavin Floyd.
A fielding error by third baseman Dayan Viciedo allowed the Twins to load the bases with one out in the fourth inning and a throwing error by second baseman Gordon Beckham on a single by Denard Span allowed two runs to score.
The Twins sent nine batters to the plate and could have added more runs as they left two runners stranded.
Floyd returned and completed the fifth inning without allowing another run. He left the game allowing four runs, one earned, on seven hits and three walks while striking out five.
Liriano pitched seven 2/3 innings to even his season record at 7-7, striking out eight batters while giving up two runs on six hits and two walks.
"Exactly what we needed," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said of Liriano's performance. "A good dose of medicine, and he gave it to us."
Chicago cut the lead to 4-2 with runs in the fifth and eighth innings, but the Twins capitalized on a throwing error by relief pitcher Tony Pena to add three more runs and stretch their lead to 7-2.
"That shows you guys how much I pray for defense," Guillen said. "Two big innings because we couldn't make the plays."
Twins relief pitcher Jon Rauch made the game interesting allowing two runs on two hits and three walks in the final inning before giving way to Jesse Crain, who got the final two outs for his first save of the season.
(Reporting by Mike Mouat in Windsor, Ontario. Edited by Patrick Johnston and Peter Rutherford)
