Minnesota Twins defeat Chicago White Sox, 6-1

It was an all too familiar business-as-usual night for the Minnesota Twins.

Not the first time, either.

They've made a habit of strolling into the South Side of Chicago in a big August series, breaking hearts with superior fundamentals and clutch hitting, then strutting out of town with momentum.

So the Twins' 6-1 win over the Sox on Thursday night was nothing new -- just another reminder that the Central Division title will be taken, not handed out. And the road ...

The White Sox' pitching staffs from 1998 to 2000 were a lot of things, but timid about throwing at hitters wasn't one of them.

Over that three-year period, Jim Parque hit 27 batters, caused one bench-clearing brawl against the Detroit Tigers and even hit Omar Vizquel -- then a Cleveland Indian -- before charging him.

James Baldwin hit 25 batters in that three-year span. Even Jaime Navarro hit 18 in 1998 and '99, but that might have been from a lack of control.

So ...