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  Sunday, May 14 2:05pm ET
Baldwin gets White Sox started
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

CHICAGO (AP) -- James Baldwin wasn't concerned with his pitch count, he just wanted to stay in the game.

Baldwin, trying to tie David Wells as the AL's only seven-game winners, was pulled after six innings of Chicago's 5-3 victory Sunday over the Minnesota Twins.

Unfortunately for the right-hander, Jose Valentin's game-winning hit came an inning too late to give him the victory.

"He asked to go back out in the seventh inning," White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said. "But there are only so many pitches in a guy's arm."

Manuel didn't want to overextend Baldwin, who threw over 100 pitches Sunday following a complete game in his last start.

"I had no control over anything, and I was falling behind a lot," Baldwin said. "But I really wanted (to pitch the seventh), to give our bullpen a break."

Baldwin, who is undefeated in six decisions, allowed three runs and six hits.

Kelly Wunsch (2-2) pitched an inning of scoreless relief for his second win in two days. Keith Foulke earned his fifth save.

Mark Johnson led off the Chicago seventh with a single and was sacrificed to second by Ray Durham. Valentin then chased Brad Radke (2-4) with an RBI single.

"Bad breaks, a couple of swinging bunts and broken bat bloopers," Radke said. "There is nothing you can do about that."

Carlos Lee hit an RBI single in the eighth off Twins reliever Hector Carrasco.

Baldwin loaded the bases with none out in the first, but minimized the damage by getting Ron Coomer to hit into a run-scoring double play. Corey Koskie then struck out.

Baldwin had won his previous eight starts, dating to last September. He has won 14 of 16 decisions.

Greg Norton hit an infield RBI single in the second to tie it at 1.

With two outs in the third, Frank Thomas walked and Magglio Ordonez hit an infield single. Paul Konerko followed with a two-run double to put Chicago ahead 3-1.

Marcus Jensen walked leading off the Twins fifth and scored on Jay Canizaro's double. Jacque Jones singled and a passed ball by Johnson tied it at 3.

Denny Hocking's grounder moved Jones to third. But when Matt Lawton hit a roller to short, Valentin turned toward third base and nailed Jones, who had wandered off the bag.

"That play got me really pumped up," Baldwin said. "That was a big play in the game."

Game notes
White Sox OF Chris Singleton was forced to leave in the second after dislocating his right index finger sliding into second base. The finger was put back into place and Singleton is expected to play Tuesday in New York, according to Manuel. ... Sunday was baseball glove day giveaway as 10,000 mitts were handed out to kids. The promotion helped swell attendance to 29,177, the second-largest crowd of the season. ... The Twins made two outstanding plays in the second inning, as tough catches by shortstop Hocking and outfielder Jones each saved runs. ... Horror novelist Stephen King wore a White Sox cap as he watched the game from a seat behind the Twins dugout.

 


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