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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CHICAGO (AP) – Brad Radke is off to the best start of his career
and the Minnesota Twins are following his lead.
|  | | Brad Radke became the majors' first four-game winner on Friday. |
"It's nice to beat anybody, but it's nice to beat the champs,"
Radke said Friday night after becoming the first four-game winner
in the majors as the Twins beat the Chicago White Sox, last year's
Al Central winners, 4-1.
Radke pitched a seven-hitter and is now 4-0 for the first time
in his career. Darren Oliver of Texas joined Radke at 4-0 later
Friday night, beating Oakland 9-6.
The Twins are 12-3 -- their best mark through 15 games since the
1972 team had an identical start.
"You can't get too high by the start and a lot of guys in the
clubhouse realize that," said Radke, who signed a new four-year
contract last July because he saw a brighter future after years of
losing.
"I saw some things in this team that I liked, that they were
going to do something," he said.
Radke and Chicago's Jim Parque had nearly identical pitching
lines Friday night. They both gave up seven hits, walked one,
struck out six and threw 112 pitches.
But Parque, who pitched his first career complete game in a
losing effort, surrendered a solo homer and triple to David Ortiz
and a two-run go-ahead shot to Corey Koskie in the sixth.
"I could care less about the complete game. I'm just bummed and
disappointed we've lost four straight to those guys," Parque said.
"I gave up that two-run homer and a triple and that was pretty
much the game, so I don't feel too good about it."
Radke, who got his 23rd career complete game, gave up Frank
Thomas' check-swing RBI single in the first but regrouped after a
single by Magglio Ordonez to get Paul Konerko on a double play
grounder.
"It's the best I've seen him," Chicago manager Jerry Manuel
said of Radke. "He did the job of keeping us off balance. Right
now he's a veteran pitcher who's got his stuff together."
Koskie's second homer was a two-run shot and broke a 1-1 tie in
the sixth. Ortiz, whose fourth homer tied the game in the second,
then tripled into the right field corner and scored on Bobby
Kielty's sacrifice fly for a 4-1 lead.
Parque (0-2) hasn't won in four starts this season.
"I've been able to make solid contract against Parque, it's
just one of those things," Koskie said.
Thomas' single in the first scored Ray Durham, who had led off
with a single and moved to second on a bunt by Jose Valentin.
Thomas then advanced to third on Ordonez's single before Konerko
hit into the double play.
"I got out of the first inning after giving up three hits. I'll
take it," said Radke, who beat the White Sox for the second time
in less than a week.
Game notes
After the game, the Twins sent Kielty to Class AAA Edmonton
and will activate CF Torii Hunter for Saturday's game. Hunter has
been on the disabled list with a sore groin. ... Koskie has hit two
of his 23 career homers off Parque, his only two off a left-handed
pitcher. He is 8-for-18 against Parque in his career. ... James
Baldwin, who began the season on the disabled list following
offseason shoulder surgery, will make his first start for the White
Sox on Saturday. ... The Twins are 4-0 against the White Sox after
sweeping a three-game series at the Metrodome last weekend. ... The
White Sox had two big baserunning mistakes. Tony Graffanino led off
the eighth with a double but after Harold Baines struck out, he was
doubled off second on Durham's pop to shallow right. Earlier,
Carlos Lee broke too soon on a steal attempt and was tagged out
easily.
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RECAPS
Cleveland 5
Detroit 4
NY Yankees 6
Boston 1
Baltimore 6
Tampa Bay 3
Minnesota 4
Chi. White Sox 1
Toronto 12
Kansas City 4
Texas 9
Oakland 6
Seattle 4
Anaheim 1
Cincinnati 9
NY Mets 5
Florida 5
Montreal 1
Philadelphia 8
Atlanta 3
Chicago Cubs 8
Pittsburgh 2
Houston 10
St. Louis 1
Arizona 3
Colorado 2
Los Angeles 3
San Diego 1
San Francisco 3
Milwaukee 1
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