CHICAGO -- Trevor Plouffe's eighth-inning homer, his second of the game, proved to be the game-winning drive in the Twins' 6-2 victory over the White Sox on Friday night at U.S. Cellular Field. The victory helped the Twins keep pace with the Rangers for the American League's second Wild Card, with Texas maintaining its one-game lead by shutting out Oakland.
Plouffe connected in the fourth inning against White Sox starter Erik Johnson and came through with one out in the eighth against reliever Nate Jones. The Minnesota third baseman has 20 homers and 76 RBIs, adding a run-scoring single in the ninth.