Twins make move

CHICAGO -- Jason Bartlett hit a two-out RBI single in the top of the ninth inning last night and the Minnesota Twins took over the AL wild-card lead by beating the White Sox, 5-4.

Minnesota finished off its eighth win in 11 games when a fan interfered with first baseman Justin Morneau's attempt to catch Jermaine Dye's foul pop. First base umpire Andy Fletcher made the call for the final out.

The Twins lead the wild card by a half-game over the White Sox, who fell to third place in the AL Central. The Twins trail division-leading Detroit by five games.

The Twins, who trailed, 3-0, early, took a 4-3 lead on Torii Hunter's three-run homer in the sixth . But Chicago's A.J. Pierzynski led off the bottom of the inning with a homer to tie it.

Hunter started the ninth with a single off Mike MacDougal (1-1). Hunter was forced at second and after Jason Tyner hit back to MacDougal, sending pinch runner Lew Ford to second, Bartlett, the No. 9 hitter, singled to center to put the Twins up.

Jesse Crain (3-5) pitched two scoreless innings for the victory and Joe Nathan got three outs for his 27th save in 28 chances.

Paul Konerko hit a two-run homer in the first -- his first in 65 at-bats -- and the White Sox had another run cut down at the plate after taking a 3-0 lead in the second. Twins starter Brad Radke was pulled after two innings, but a team spokesman said he wasn't injured.

Minnesota's Nick Punto hit his first homer of the season with one out in the sixth to cut the lead to 3-1. After Michael Cuddyer singled, Chicago starter Javier Vazquez was replaced by Neal Cotts.

Cotts yielded a single to Morneau, then Hunter hit David Riske's first pitch for a three-run homer to right, his 20th of the season and fifth against the White Sox.

But Pierzynski answered by hitting reliever Pat Neshek's first pitch for a long homer to right-center, his 11th, to tie the game.

Vazquez gave up five hits and was charged with two runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Radke had given up four hits and three runs when he was replaced by Matt Guerrier to start the bottom of the third. The outing represented his shortest of the season.

The 33-year-old Radke, who is 5-2 since the All-Star break, is pitching with a torn labrum and has not had surgery because he will probably retire after the season.