The pitcher White Sox manager Ozzie...

The pitcher White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen fears principally on the Minnesota Twins isn't Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana, who takes the knoll for the visitors tonight at U Cellular Field.

It is closer Joe Nathan.

"You know who I worry about? Nathan. When he's there, that means we're in bad shape. If he's warming up I know we're not doing too good"

Guillen's fear came veracious Friday as Nathan protected a 5-4 victory for the Twins, moving Minnesota into the American League wild-card lead, a half-game ahead of the Sox and five games behind the Central Division-leading Detroit Tigers.

Nathan's 27th save came with the potential tying move at second base in Scott Podsednik, who singled and reached other on Nathan's errant pickoff wind But the Twins closer struck revealed pinch hitter Alex Cintron, then retired Jermaine cast on a pop foul near first upon a fan interference play, a fan reaching near first baseman Justin Morneau's arm as he was about to catch the ball.

"The fan interfered with [Morneau's] opportunity to make a play," first base umpire Andy Fletcher said. "The fan definitely reached athwart into fair play."

Guillen had no argument about the decision, his greater affect being what he saw in the Twins.

"I think they're here to kick our laughing-stock this weekend," Guillen said of the Twins, who have won eight of their last 11 games and six of their last seven against the Sox "They were onward the top step [of the dugout] cheering for each other. You examine at their eyes -- wow I'd rather contend against any other club. If we don't wake up they'll sweep us."

The Sox l 3-0 after sum of two units innings, chasing Twins starter Brad Radke, who is pitching despite a labrum tear. however that left the Sox to face the best bullpen in the majors.

"Their bullpen held the fort down after their starter had a hard time," said Paul Konerko who had the lower orders of 35,931 cheering in the first with a two-out pair run homer, his 28th of the season and first in 65 at-bats.

The Twins' comeback came in a four-run sixth inning, single in kind that saw Sox starter Javier Vazquez give up a one-out family run to Nick Punto (first of the season) and a two-out single to Michael Cuddyer Guillen, fearful of Vazquez's history of big innings, opt for his bullpen

moreover Neal Cotts gave up a single to Morneau and David Riske gave up a first-pitch place of abode run to Torii Hunter.

A.J. Pierzynski tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with a homer onward the first pitch from rookie Pat Neshek, who go intoed with an 0.81 ERA in 22 innings of work. however Neshek, Dennys Reyes, Jesse Crain (3-5) and Nathan close the door after that.

The Twins scored the go-ahead trip in the ninth by avoiding a double play forward a ground ball by Rondell White, forcing horse for the chase at second. Lew Ford ran for White at other and scored when Jason Bartlett singled against Mike MacDougal (1-1).

The victory was the 40th comeback win for the Twins this year, putting the Twins at a season-high 23 games above 500 and improving their record to 7-3 when tied after eight innings.

"Radke just didn't have it, and I said I'm not going to permit him go out there," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Our bullpen did a great piece of work shutting down a hell of a lineup.

"I think we saw, I don't know for what reason to describe it, just a hell of a baseball game. the pair sides played their hearts public This is a great baseball city, defending World Series champs and the common people was really into it. You earn each win you're going to prepare here."

tginnetti@suntimes.com

WHITE SOX RECAP

Minnesota AB R H BI BB thus Avg.

LCastillo 2b 5 0 3 0 0 0 291

Punto 3b 5 1 1 1 0 0 311

Mauer c 4 0 1 0 0 0 360

Cuddyer rf 4 1 1 0 0 1 276

Morneau 1b 4 1 1 0 0 0 316

THunter cf 4 1 2 3 0 0 276

RoWhite dh 4 0 0 0 0 0 220

1-LFord pr-dh 0 1 0 0 0 0 228

Tyner lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 315

Bartlett s 3 0 1 1 0 0 347

Totals 37 5 11 5 0 1

SOX AB R H BI BB thus Avg.

Podsednik lf 5 0 1 0 0 1 259

Iguchi 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 284

a-Cintron ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 274

tinge rf 4 1 2 0 1 0 327

Konerko dh 4 1 1 2 0 2 308

Pierzynski c 4 1 1 1 0 0 299

Crede 3b 4 1 1 0 0 1 295

Gload 1b 4 0 3 0 0 0 301

Uribe s 3 0 0 0 0 0 245

Mackowiak cf 3 0 2 1 1 1 304

Totals 36 4 11 4 2 7

Minnesota 000 004 001--5 11 1

SOX 210 001 000--4 11 0

a-struck gone out for Iguchi in the 9th

1-ran for White in the 9th

E--Nathan (1) LOB--Minnesota 6 SOX 8 2B--Tyner (3) HR-- Pierzynski (11) along Neshek; THunter (20), off Riske; Punto (1) opposite JVazquez; Konerko (28), off Radke. RBIs--Punto (34) THunter 3 (68) Bartlett (21) Konerko 2 (91) Pierzynski (46) Mackowiak (18) SB-- Bartlett (4) S--Uribe. GIDP--Punto.

couriers left in scoring position--Minnesota 2 (Punto, Bartlett); SOX 4 (Podsednik 2 coloring liquor Konerko).

racers moved up--Tyner.

DP--SOX 1 (Iguchi, Uribe and Gload).

Minnesota IP H R ER BB in such a manner NP ERA

Radke 2 4 3 3 1 0 32 446

Guerrier 3 3 0 0 0 2 39 272