MINNEAPOLIS — The express lanes were open Wednesday night at Target Field, adding more misery to the White Sox’s woes in Minnesota.
The Twins stole five bases, including a career-high three for slugger Michael Cuddyer that exposed one of the Sox’s lingering weaknesses in a 4-1 loss that extended the Twins’ winning streak over the Sox to six games.
The thievery started five hours after Sox pitchers worked on holding runners closer slide steps and pitchouts.
Unfortunately for the Sox, the Twins exploited pitcher Gavin Floyd and catcher A.J. Pierzynski during a three-run third inning and during the eighth that led to an insurance run.
Opponents have stolen 61 bases in 75 attempts against the Sox for an 81 percent success rate.
“Gavin slide-stepped every time they took off,” said manager Ozzie Guillen, who supervised the early workout. “Unfortunately, those guys know how to run the bases. They’re pretty fast. There’s nothing you can do about it.”
But Cuddyer, known more for his slugging than his speed, doubled his season total and is one shy of his career high of seven last season.
Cuddyer stole second base on the back end of a double steal and he and Alexi Casilla scored on Delmon Young’s single that capped the three-run third. In the eighth, Cuddyer singled, stole second with two out and scored on Danny Valencia’s double.
That run loomed large because the Sox put runners at second and third with no outs in the ninth and the heart of their order up. But Carl Pavano retired Carlos Quentin, Paul Konerko and the embattled Pierzynski in succession for his second complete game.
“We all know where we stand with the running game when Gavin is out there,” Pierzynski said. “Everyone knows where we stand, and it’s just part of the game.”
Said Floyd: “I’m trying as much as possible to keep them at first. They just pick the right spots. It’s just the way it is.”
But opponents have stolen 54 bases in 61 attempts against Pierzynski (who has nailed only seven runners in 48 tries when he attempts a throw), who unsuccessfully tried to nail Cuddyer at second on the double steal.
“You can see both guys’ jumps,” Pierzynski said. “Usually the trailer guy doesn’t get as good a jump because he doesn’t know the guy is going. It’s bang-bang. We have to stop the guy at second. If he doesn’t run, the other guy doesn’t run, either.”
The Nos. 1-4 batters in the Sox order went a combined 0-for-11 until Juan Pierre led off the ninth with a single and advanced to third on Alexei Ramirez’s double.
Twitter @MDGonzales
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