Dein erstes Forum » stymied Citys bid to finish in the top two

CHICAGO -- Brian Dozier was struggling to keep his average above .200 for the first two months of the season.Then June arrived and Dozier turned into one of the hottest hitters in the majors.Dozier homered twice and drove in four runs, Kyle Gibson pitched seven innings of five-hit ball for his first victory of the season, and the Minnesota Twins blanked the Chicago White Sox 4-0 on Tuesday night.Dozier homered in his third straight game and extended his hitting streak to 10 games as the last-place Twins beat the White Sox for first time in seven tries.Its contagious. I know thats a boring answer, but it really is, Dozier said. Guys heat up around you and you kind of feed off one another. I got a couple good pitches to hit.Gibson (1-5) struck out seven and walked one in his best performance since coming off the disabled list this month.Ryan Pressly and Brandon Kintzler each got three outs to finish the six-hitter for Minnesotas first shutout of the season.Thankfully, I was able to put up some zeros and keep some of the pressure off the offense, Gibson said.Dozier pulled both homers off Jose Quintana (5-8), a solo shot off a fastball in the second and a three-run drive off a curveball in the sixth for his third career multihomer game. Doziers 12th homer of the season drove in Eduardo Nunez, who had singled, and Joe Mauer, who walked.Dozier has gone from .202 on June 1 to .259. In his 10-game hitting streak, he is hitting .439 (18 for 41) with five homers, three doubles and two triples.I think hes just slowing himself down and getting a better look at the baseball, Twins manager Paul Molitor said. I think hes executing plans a little bit better and when he gets mistakes, hes taking advantage.It was the ninth straight game with an extra-base hit for Dozier, the longest streak for the franchise since it moved to Minnesota in 1961. Dozier added an infield single off Chris Beck in the eighth.Its all about driving the ball and staying behind the ball, Dozier said.The Twins won for the fifth time in eight games and slowed a White Sox team that thought it was on the upswing.Chicago had won two straight series after a 10-26 stretch, but it was shut down by Gibson in the right-handers best start since he threw 7 2/3 scoreless innings against the White Sox on Sept. 13.Todd Frazier went 0 for 4 and struck out twice, lowering his average to .198, and Melky Cabrera was 0 for 3 before leaving with a sore left wrist after six innings.Rookie Tim Anderson had two hits for the White Sox, who again provided little support for Quintana. The lefty allowed six hits and struck out eight in seven innings.After a 5-1 start, Quintana is 0-7 in his last nine outings despite a 3.18 season ERA.Its been going on for two or three years, Frazier said of Quintanas lack of support. Maybe we try a little harder. Im not saying pressing like `We got to, we got to. But maybe we go after it more rather than just see pitches.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: RHP Phil Hughes will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. He was already out with a broken bone above his left knee. ... 3B Miguel Sano (strained left hamstring) homered Monday for Triple-A Rochester, but Molitor said he still has a ways to go before hell be ready to end his rehab assignment.White Sox: Manager Robin Ventura said Cabrera has been sore since diving for a fly ball on June 18. When he swings and misses there seems to be some irritation, Ventura said.MORNEAU CLOSERRecent White Sox signing Justin Morneau (elbow surgery) said he feels more like a baseball player as he takes daily batting practice. The former AL MVP with the Twins could start a minor league rehab stint next week -- he said hell need at least 30 at-bats -- before a possible Chicago debut after the All-Star break.That would put Morneau in line to play at Minnesota as an opponent for the first time July 29-31.Itll be weird, he said.UP NEXTRHP James Shields (2-9, 6.22 ERA) makes his fifth start for Chicago and faces Minnesota RHP Ricky Nolasco (3-5, 4.95 ERA) on Wednesday night. Larry Johnson Jersey . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. David Wesley Jersey . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. https://www.cheaphornets.com/865l-jalen-mcdaniels-jersey-hornets.html . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. D. J. Augustin Jersey .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. Alonzo Mourning Jersey . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No. Bruce Kamau has recovered from concussion and could start for Melbourne City against his former side Adelaide United in Friday nights A-League clash at AAMI Park.However, fellow City winger Nicolas Colazo will miss another match after coach John van t Schip revealed the Argentinian underwent surgery for a perforated ear drum on Wednesday.The Argentinian will be absent for a few weeks after going under the knife to treat his condition.Its less than ideal for van t Schip, who must re-shape his side for Adelaides visit just three days after their bruising FFA Cup win over Melbourne Victory.But the Dutch coach, who has overseen an impressive start to Citys season, says he has the cattle to cope with their rigorous schedule of three games in eight days.From the start weve said we have a strong group. We have competition, he said on Thursday.Were going to see how players feel and if we have to make changes to freshen up or because there are players that arent completely recovered, we know we can do that.Kamaus availability helps.The 21-year-old was the first of van t Schips off-season signings, agreeing a deal to move to Melbourne just days after Uniteds A-League triumph last May.A fierce knock against Perth Glory ruled him out of the Cup derby, and van t Schip said he was delighted to have him back.The team is developing and progressing as a whole, he said.The wingers are having a very important role. Theyre all giving us a lot so we can play a certain style.Many followed Kamau - both through Adelaides exit door, and in finding new homes at the Ciity Football Academy.dddddddddddd.Reds coach Guillermo Amor lost seven senior players in the weeks after breaking their title drought, while Citys transformation to title contenders came with the arrival of 11.Perhaps thats why, just three weeks into the season, its City that have that championship lustre, while United are yet to find their feet.Every team that has attempted to play a passing and possession game against City this season has been cut down, with Perths counter-attacking rearguard their only defeat in seven competitive matches.On Friday night, theres also a revenge element at play.It was Adelaide that stymied Citys bid to finish in the top two last season with a heated 2-0 round 27 win, and then knocked them out of the finals with a 4-1 humbling at Coopers Stadium.Other players that have moved between the two clubs - including Osama Malik, Ruon Tongyik (City), Michael Marrone, Ben Garuccio and Marc Marino (United) - add spice to what should be an attacking game.City sit third on the ladder with six points, while Adelaide have just one point from their opening three matches.STATS THAT MATTER* Adelaide dont fear coming to Melbourne - theyve won on their last two visits, and are yet to lose interstate in 2015.* City have kept just one clean sheet in 11 against United.* All-action midfielder Neil Kilkenny is the only A-League player to have picked up a yellow card in all three games so far this campaign. 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