Chicago @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 5, 2011 ) Chi. White Sox 4, Minnesota 0

THE STORY: It's doubtful Tuesday night's game between the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins can match the drama that captured Target Field on Monday. Chicago rookie Zach Stewart came within six outs of pitching a perfect game in the second game of a day-night doubleheader. Stewart's bid for perfection was broken up by Danny Valencia's leadoff double in the eighth inning. The righthander finished with a one-hitter and the White Sox completed the sweep with a 4-0 win. Chicago won the first game 2-1.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, WCIU (Chicago), FSNO (Minnesota).

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Jake Peavy (6-7, 5.21 ERA) vs. Twins RH Liam Hendricks (NR).

The Twins teed off on Peavy for six runs and six hits in the first inning last week in Chicago. He managed to get through five innings without any more damage, but dropped his seventh decision and lost to the Twins for the second time in 2011. Jason Kubel and Luke Hughes hit two-run homers in the first. The home run is Kubel's only hit off Peavy in eight career at-bats.

Injuries to Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker, Brian Duensing and Nick Blackburn, along with Monday's doubleheader, have left the Twins needing starting pitchers. Hendricks, one of Minnesota's prospects, will make his first appearance in the big leagues. The righthander split the season between Double-A New Britain and Triple-A Rochester, going 12-6 with a 3.36 ERA in 25 games.

ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (70-69): Ozzie Guillen's team deserves some credit. The White Sox were embarrassed in front of a national television audience Sunday night when they were pounded 18-2 in Detroit. The loss completed a three-game sweep and ended any realistic hopes the White Sox had of staying in the American League Central race. The White Sox didn't get into Minneapolis until around 3 a.m. Monday so it would have been understandable if they had been flat for a doubleheader that started less than 12 hours later. Instead, they got outstanding pitching and just enough offense to win both games.

ABOUT THE TWINS (58-83): There have probably been worse days than Monday in Twins' history. Then again, maybe not. Minnesota managed one run and eight hits in 18 innings of baseball in the doubleheader sweep. Making matters worse, the two-time defending AL Central champions have fallen behind Kansas City and are now in last place in the division. The Twins, who have been plagued by injuries all season, have lost 13 of their last 16 games and might not be able to avoid finishing in the basement. This certainly isn't what anyone who follows the team had in mind when the season began.

FINAL PITCH: There was an unusual sighting in Chicago's lineup in Monday's first game. Adam Dunn, who has been at the end of the Chicago bench, started for only the third time in the last 10 games as the designated hitter. He was hitless in three at-bats and struck out once.