MLB: Minnesota 6, Chicago White Sox 4

MINNEAPOLIS, July 10 (UPI) -- Joe Mauer's RBI single put Minnesota ahead in the seventh Friday after the Twins squandered a four-run lead and they held on to beat the Chicago White Sox 6-4.

The Twins halted a three-game losing streak and moved within a half game of Chicago for second place in the American League Central.

Minnesota struck for four runs in the first inning, two of them coming on a double by Jason Kubel, but Chicago battled back to tie it in the sixth.

Reliever Octavio Dotal walked Nick Punto to open the Minnesota seventh and was relieved by Matt Thornton. Punto moved to second on a sacrifice by Denard Span and then stole third, from where he scored on Mauer's two-out single to center.

The Twins added a run in the eighth on a squeeze bunt by Carlos Gomez that brought home Matt Tolbert from third.

Minnesota starter Nick Blackburn (8-4) survived seven innings to get the win. He gave up four runs on nine hits.

Dotel (1-3) took the loss.