Star Tribune | Patrick Reusse: Twins are forced to deal in the now

The Chicago White Sox played an early game in Yankee Stadium on Saturday. They managed one hit, a Jim Thome double, off the Yankees’ devastating big-market tandem of Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin and lost 10-0.

Detroit had a late-afternoon slot and was at home against Tampa Bay. The Rays had been reminded a day earlier that winning costs too much when lefthander Scott Kazmir was traded to the Angels. No matter. The Tigers managed six singles and lost 3-1.

The Twins had opportunity twisting through the Dome’s revolving doors on Saturday evening. They responded with three singles, a scratch double and the first shutout loss since May 5—3-0 to the Texas Rangers.

Thus, the White Sox, the Twins and the Tigers, the Three Stooges of the American League Central race, managed as they are by Ozzie, Gardy and Smoky, had charged onto big-league ballfields and combined for one run, 11 hits and 13 total bases in 27 half-innings on Saturday.