CHICAGO, July 7 (UPI) -- Joe Mauer, playing first base for the first time in his career, had three hits and two RBI Thursday in pacing Minnesota to a 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox.
Mauer had played no other position than catcher during his 8-year career, but the Twins plan to try him at first base on an experimental basis in hopes of saving wear and tear on his body.
He responded Thursday with RBI singles in the first and fourth innings while the Twins were building a 6-0 lead. Tsuyoshi Nishioka had two run-scoring singles as part of Minnesota's 13-hit attack.
The Twins won for the fourth time in five games and have defeated the White Sox in all five of their meetings this year.
Carl Pavano (6-6) gave up two runs on six hits in seven innings to get the victory. Chicago's runs came on a homer by Mark Teahen in the fifth.
The loss was charged to Philip Humber (8-5), who was touched for six runs on 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings.
