MINNEAPOLIS – The Chicago White Sox will be facing Liam Hendriks, who will become the ninth active Australian-born pitcher to play in the major leagues.
So obviously, fellow Australian Shane Lindsay was sought for a scouting report on Hendriks, who was 12-6 with a 3.36 ERA at the Double and Triple-A levels.
“(Sox hitting coach) Greg Walker asked me whether he threw a cutter or slider,” said Lindsay, who has met Hendriks only once but has since stayed in touch. “I really couldn’t tell. I knew he had a sinker.”
Hendricks, however, has been outdueled by Jake Peavy, who pitched 6 1/3 shutout innings as the Sox cruised to a 3-0 victory for their eighth win in their ninth game against theTwins. Peavy showed no signs of shoulder fatigue as he struck out a season-high nine while scattering four hits.
The Sox, who won their third consecutive game, remained eight games behind Detroit in the American League Central.
Sergio Santos pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 29th save.
Alex Rios ripped a solo home run over the left field fence to give the Sox a 2-0 lead. The Sox took a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI single by Alejandro De Aza that scored Adam Dunn from second base.
Twins center fielder Joe Benson, a former Joliet Catholic High School standout who grew up a Cubs fan. was making his major league debut. Benson, who arrived at Target Field 4 1/2 hours before Tuesday night’s game, told reporters that his father and high school coach were driving to Minneapolis in time for the game.
Benson drew a walk against Peavy in his first major league at-bat and lined to Rios in center.
Benson, however, failed to make a diving catch that resulted in a triple by De Aza to start the fifth, and De Aza scored on Alexei Ramirez’s single.
