White Sox Win on Inside-the-Park Grand Slam Homer

Ron Karkovice hit an inside-the-park grand slam in the fourth inning to lead the White Sox past the Minnesota Twins 4-3 today and end Chicago’s five-game losing streak.

Bobby Thigpen earned his major league-leading 44th save in relief of Jack McDowell (11-6), winner of five of his last six starts. McDowell gave up five hits and three runs in eight innings before giving way to Thigpen at the start of the ninth. Thigpen is two short of Dave Righetti’s season record.

Chicago loaded the bases against David West (7-9) with one out in the fourth on Phil Bradley’s single, Ivan Calderon’s double and Frank Thomas’ walk.

Karkovice lined a 1-2 pitch just over the glove of leaping Twins shortstop Greg Gagne. The ball rolled to the fence between left fielder Dan Gladden and center fielder John Moses.

Moses slipped at the base of fence and tossed the ball to Gladden. But Gladden, who was looking towards the infield, missed it and the ball rolled away.