After a weekend sweep at the hands of the Tigers, the White Sox came home to open a three-game series against the Twins. Gavin Floyd, just off the DL, started for the Sox and led them to a 7-4 win.

The lower third of the order for the Sox were really the only ones to struggle offensively tonight. Dayan Viciedo, Alexei Ramirez and Gordon Beckham each failed to reach base tonight. Unlike the rest of the lineup. Alejandro De Aza and Paul Konerko each picked up three hits while the other four starters each picked up one.

De Aza got on base in each inning where the Sox scored their runs. He led off the first before Konerko launched a three-run home run. He also led off the third with a ground-rule double before Adam Dunn hit a two-run home run. After Dunn’s home run, Konerko walked and Alex Rios homered to left for his only hit of the game.

The offense hammered Twins starter Francisco Liriano. He lasted just 2.2 innings, giving up seven runs on seven hits and a walk. Three home runs off Liriano. Three. Konerko’s home run was a welcome home run. It was his first since June 29 at Yankee Stadium and his second extra-base hit since then, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. It was also Paulie’s first home run at home since June 18 when he hit one against the Cubs.

After Liriano’s departure, the Twins bullpen didn’t allow anymore runs. Brian Duensing allowed just three hits, and Alex Burnett pitched 1.1 innings of perfect baseball.

White Sox pitching was excellent tonight. Floyd returned from the disabled list and pitched a solid six innings. He gave up three runs, two earned, on six hits. He did give up six walks, but the Sox turned five double plays tonight. Matt Thornton came on to pitch the seventh. He allowed two hits, but neither one crossed the plate.

Jesse Crain made his first appearance in a month tonight. He was reinstated from the disabled list before Saturday’s game and pitched two-thirds of an inning tonight. He allowed a lead-off home run to Ryan Doumit, but he settled down and only allowed one more hit before being replaced by Brett Myers, who made his White Sox debut tonight after being acquired from the Astros on Saturday.

The ninth inning was kind of awesome, as Addison Reed picked up his 16th save. He gave up a lead-off double to Denard Span who consistently has really good games against the Sox (he went 3-for-5 today). Reed then got Ben Revere to ground out to Alexei which didn’t please Revere too much. Span moved into third on Revere’s ground out, and Joe Mauer stepped to the plate. Mauer hit what was sure to be a base hit that would score Span, but Alexei timed a jump perfectly and robbed Mauer of that hit and RBI. To end the inning and the game, Reed pitched a nasty strikeout to Josh Willingham.

With tonight’s win and Detroit’s day off, the Sox are a game out of first place again. Tomorrow, Jose Quintana faces off against Cole De Vries. Quintana had a stellar start his last time out, pitching eight scoreless innings, only to earn a no-decision in Boston as the bullpen blew it for him. De Vries is coming off a good outing against the Orioles on Thursday, giving up one run on five hits.