The White Sox heard all winter and spring about Detroit’s upgrades and Cleveland’s status as the defending American League Central champion.
But Minnesota never left manager Ozzie Guillen’s mind.
After completing a three-game sweep of Kansas City on Thursday night, the Sox have a chance to put more distance between themselves and the pesky Twins when they open a four-game series against Minnesota at U.S. Cellular Field starting Friday night.
“I always say a lot of [good] things about Minnesota and people think I’m crazy,” Guillen said before Jose Contreras pitched seven innings of four-hit ball to lead the Sox to a 6-2 victory over the Royals. “I said early in the season when we saw them that a lot of people were talking about two teams (Cleveland and Detroit), and they didn’t talk about Minnesota.
“They’re always going to find a way to get you, and we don’t expect to run away with this thing. It’s another big series and everyone knows that. We have to take every series like ‘Look who is coming into town.’ They’re playing well. Like I always say, those guys find a way to get you and they will.”
The Sox (33-26) are 3-0 in a stretch of nine consecutive games against division opponents. They are 17-8 in AL Central play, compared to Minnesota’s 18-9 mark against the rest of the division.
The Sox expanded their lead to 2 1/2 games over Minnesota by stringing together four hits and two walks during a four-run second off Gil Meche.
Jim Thome hit his second home run in as many games, an opposite-field solo shot that landed in the left-field bullpen in the seventh. Thome’s homer was his 12th of the season and 519th of his career.
The Sox managed the victory without third baseman Joe Crede, who was relieved that his right wrist wasn’t broken after fielding David DeJesus’ hard grounder in the 12th inning of Wednesday night’s 15-inning victory.
“It’s pretty sore right now, but it’s definitely not as bad as it was, or as bad as we anticipated,” Crede said. “I’ll definitely be in there [Friday night]. It didn’t get any glove — all wrist, plus there’s not much muscle and tendons in there, so it’s a pretty deep bone bruise right now.”
Guillen was relieved X-rays taken after Wednesday’s game revealed no break but said he would be cautious before putting Crede back in the lineup.
“I’m not in a hurry to rush him back because he got hit in the wrist,” Guillen said. “When you’re a power hitter and when you don’t have the wrist and your hands aren’t working the right way, you’re not going to get good swings.”
The four-run second was plenty of support for Contreras, who limited Tampa Bay to one run over seven innings in his last start but left with no decision.
Contreras (6-3) won his fourth consecutive decision while improving to 9-4 lifetime against Kansas City. He has limited opponents to five hits or fewer in five consecutive starts.
Contreras is 4-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his last six starts, and he has held the opposition to one run in seven of his 12 starts.
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mgonzales@tribune.com
