Mauer hits grand slam, drives in six runs as Twins destroy White Sox

CHICAGO -- While the Chicago White Sox weren't exactly showing their best side to Jake Peavy, the Minnesota Twins were taking out their anger on the baseball.

Joe Mauer hit a grand slam, two doubles and drove in a career-high six runs as the Twins routed the White Sox 20-1 Thursday, matching Chicago's most-lopsided loss in team history.

"I think a lot frustration came out today," said Mauer, whose Twins had lost the first six games of their road trip before winning big on getaway day. "We had a rough trip. It was nice to get some runs. We kept on saying, 'Keep at it, keep at it."

There was nothing nice about the game for the White Sox, whose only other 19-run defeat ever was a 19-0 loss at Anaheim in 2002.

"We did everything wrong we could do," Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said. "You name it, we did it wrong."

Michael Cuddyer, Joe Crede and Matt Tolbert also homered as part of a 20-hit Minnesota attack that made the White Sox pine even more for Peavy.

After talking trade with Atlanta and the Chicago Cubs during the offseason, the San Diego Padres have agreed to deal their ace to the White Sox. The teams were waiting to see whether the 2007 NL Cy Young winner would waive his no-trade clause.

"I hope Peavy didn't watch the scoreboard today. He might say no," said Guillen, whose club lost for the sixth time in eight games. "It would be nice to have him. If not, we have to move on and continue to fight."

His team having lost nine straight on the road, Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire shook up his batting order. The strategy worked, with the Twins scoring at least 20 runs for only the 13th time in franchise history.

Mauer batted second for the first time this season, Cuddyer had four hits and three RBIs and Tolbert drove in four runs. Cleanup man Jason Kubel had three hits and everyone in the starting lineup scored within the first three innings.

"There were a lot of good performances out there -- too many to name, up and down the lineup," Gardenhire said. "Everything kind of blew up out there. If you've been in the game long enough, you've seen those."

Mauer's second career grand slam capped a six-run sixth inning. Tolbert's first big league homer, a three-run shot in the seventh, made it 20-0.

Bartolo Colon (2-4) allowed eight runs in two innings.

"I always think positive," Guillen said. "Colon will be real fresh for his next start."

Although all seven second-inning runs were unearned after an error by third baseman Wilson Betemit, Colon's latest in a series of poor outings had White Sox fans hoping the Peavy would get done.

Nick Blackburn (3-2) allowed four hits over seven innings to win for the first time at U.S. Cellular Field, where he had been 0-4 with a 5.27 ERA.

Minnesota led 1-0 and had two on in the second when Betemit fielded Nick Punto's bunt and threw the ball off Punto's helmet. Mauer's sacrifice fly and Kubel's RBI single made it 4-0 before Cuddyer lined a three-run homer over the left-field fence. Three pitches later, Crede took Colon deep for an eight-run lead.

"It wasn't Mauer and (Justin) Morneau going back to back for a change," Cuddyer said. "It was a real fun game. I like that lineup. I'm an advocate of anything that produces 20 runs."

Another throwing error by Betemit put the Twins up 10-0 in the fourth.

When the White Sox averted a shutout on Carlos Quentin's eighth-inning RBI single off Jose Mijares, those remaining in the ballpark cheered loudly.

It was the 10th time Chicago has allowed 20 runs in a game and first since a 20-14 loss to Minnesota in 2007. The Twins won for only the second time in their last 12 games at U.S. Cellular.

Game notes
Mauer has a 14-game hitting streak. ... Scott Podsednik, signed to give the White Sox better baserunning, has been picked off first base in three straight games. Thursday, he also was doubled off first on a bases-loaded liner to third. ... In their previous seven games, Twins starting pitchers were 0-3 with a 7.23 ERA. ... It was the first time in 21 games at Chicago that Minnesota pitchers didn't allow at least one home run. ... With OF Delmon Young coming off the bereavement list, the Twins sent C Jose Morales to Triple-A.