Twins Nail Sale On Konerko Day

CHICAGO (AP) — Torii Hunter homered, Trevor May pitched seven strong innings and the Minnesota Twins defeated the Chicago White Sox 4-3 on Saturday.

May (3-3) allowed three runs and six hits. He struck out nine and didn't allow a walk.

Hunter and Eduardo Nunez tagged White Sox starter Chris Sale (3-2) for solo home runs in the second inning. It was Hunter's seventh of the season and Nunez's first.

Twins closer Glen Perkins pitched a scoreless ninth for his major league-leading 16th save in 16 chances. Perkins struck out Tyler Flowers looking to end the game, leaving runners at first and second.

Sale was roughed up early but pitched eight innings. He gave up four runs, three earned, and five hits. He struck out 10 and allowed one walk.

Adam LaRoche doubled in the second inning and scored on Alexei Ramirez's single.

Sale ran into more problems in the third inning. Shane Robinson's groundout drove in Danny Santana and Trevor Plouffe's RBI single gave the Twins a 4-1 lead.

May hit Carlos Sanchez with a pitch leading off the third inning. Sanchez then scored on Adam Eaton's triple and Melky Cabrera drove Eaton in on a groundout.

Twins center fielder Aaron Hicks robbed Eaton of extra bases in the eighth with a diving catch.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Twins 1B Joe Mauer had the day off against Sale. Despite being .296 lifetime hitter against Sale, Twins manager Paul Molitor opted to rest him against the tough left-hander.

HONORED

Before the game, the White Sox retired Paul Konerko's No. 14 jersey. Konerko spent 16 seasons with the White Sox. He was honored with a statue last season on the outfield concourse. On Saturday, he returned to see his number retired. He thanked everyone from White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to his first minor league manager Joe Vavra, who is the current bench coach for the Twins.