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Joe Mauer doubled with one out off Chicago’s young right-hander for the Minnesota Twins’ only hit and Floyd had to settle for a 7-1 victory Tuesday night as the White Sox ended a six-game losing streak.
Floyd (3-1) was taken out to a standing ovation after Mauer’s double to left-center and Bobby Jenks came on to get the final two outs.
Floyd, who held Detroit hitless for 71/3 innings on April 12 before Edgar Renteria singled, walked three and struck out four. The only run the Twins could muster was aided by an error on Chicago left fielder Carlos Quentin in the fourth inning.
With a spirited crowd at U.S. Cellular Field cheering loudly, Brendan Harris struck out looking at a curveball to start the ninth inning. As the tension built, Mauer drove a ball into the gap — Chicago center fielder Nick Swisher made a diving attempt but was about a foot short — to end Floyd’s bid and his night.
Manager Ozzie Guillen then popped out of the dugout and went to get his 25-year-old right-hander, who threw 105 pitches.
After Floyd walked Mauer to lead off the fourth, Justin Morneau hit a slicing liner to left that Quentin got his glove on but couldn’t hold for an error. One out later, Jason Kubel’s sacrifice fly gave the Twins a run without a hit and cut Chicago’s lead to 3-1.
After Morneau reached on the error, the 6-foot-5 Floyd got stronger and appeared on his way to pitching the second-no hitter at U.S. Cellular Field in just more than a year.
Mark Buehrle pitched the 16th no-hitter in White Sox’s history on April 18, 2007 against Texas.
Floyd is a former first-round pick of the Phillies whose career never took off in Philadelphia where he was 7-5 with a 6.96 ERA from 2004-06 when he made 19 starts. He joined the White Sox along with Gio Gonzalez in a trade for Freddy Garcia in December, 2006.
He was 1-5 a year ago when he made 10 starts for the White Sox while splitting time between the majors and Triple-A. But he has found his confidence and his stuff this season as the White Sox’s No. 5 starter.
Floyd took his first loss of the season in his previous outing against the Twins in the Metrodome on April 29 when he gave up five hits and three runs in six innings.
He survived a shaky first Tuesday night, walking two of the first three batters before escaping the threat.
And on a comfortable 70-degree night, he kept the Twins in check for most of the night. His only career complete game was a five-inning win over the Mets almost two year ago on May 11, 2006.
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire missed his fourth straight game following the death of his brother last Thursday. He is expected to rejoin the team Wednesday.
Jermaine Dye hit his fourth homer of the season leading off the bottom of the sixth off Nick Blackburn (2-2), who gave up six hits and four runs in six innings. That put the White Sox and Floyd up 4-1. Quentin added a two-run single off Jesse Crain in the bottom of the seventh.
Notes: MRI results on Minnesota RHP Scott Baker’s sore groin revealed a light strain but no inflammation. While the Twins are undecided on whether Baker will require a stay on the disabled list. It is unlikely he will make his scheduled start on Saturday. ... Kubel has 18 RBIs this season, nine against the White Sox. ... Alexei Ramirez, the Cuban rookie who couldn’t be with the White Sox in Toronto because of visa problems, was reinstated from the restricted list.
