MINNEAPOLIS -- The Chicago White Sox havent conceded the division race, during yet another mercurial season for temperamental manager Ozzie Guillens team. Cam Fowler . Jake Peavy sure pitched like he isnt giving up. Peavy won for the first time in more than six weeks with eight shutout innings, and the White Sox beat the Twins 7-0 Sunday to sweep a three-game series in Minnesota for the first time in more than seven years. "Were going to grind things out," Peavy said. "Thats a testament to these guys who have not mailed it in. After that last stretch, we couldve come in here, our heads hung low, and mailed it in on a team that has had our number." Brent Lillibridge, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez and Alex Rios each hit home runs for the White Sox, who had lost 29 of 36 games to their nemesis until winning three straight at Target Field this weekend. The backsliding Twins have lost seven of their last eight games overall. Thats what the White Sox looked like at the beginning of the weekend, after losing six in a row after finally pulling back to the .500 mark. Those defeats did come against the top two teams in the American League, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, though, and with 50 games left in the underwhelming AL Central the White Sox arent at all out of it. Theyre still in third place, but they climbed to 5 1/2 games behind the Detroit Tigers. "Its all about confidence," Guillen said. "Theyve got their confidence back, and they know they can win." Peavy (5-5) last picked up a victory by pitching four shutout innings in his first career relief appearance, June 25 against the Washington Nationals, three days after he beat the crosstown rival Cubs with a so-so start. The 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner hasnt been the same since coming to Chicago in a trade with the Padres, but the 30-year-old right-hander was in a rhythm that recalled his old San Diego form. "Once he got the lead, he just said, Im getting ahead of every hitter," said Minnesotas Michael Cuddyer, marvelling at the way Peavy used and spotted his cut fastball. Cuddyer added: "They stuck it to us, all three games." The power surge from Peavys teammates sure helped. The White Sox were averaging barely more than four runs per game when hes pitched, but little Lillibridge went deep for the second straight day in the second inning and Konerko followed suit in the fourth -- both shots to the same section in the second deck above left field off Brian Duensing (8-10). The White Sox hit only 18 home runs in July, their fewest in that month since 1992. "You have to tip your hat to them. They hit the ball well," said Duensing, lamenting that he left many of his sinkers up in the strike zone. Peavy, whose start was pushed back by one day, will probably have to play a big part for the White Sox to catch the Tigers. He gave up only three hits, all in the first three innings, and Joe Mauers double was the only way the Twins got a runner to second base. Peavy struck out six without a walk, hitting one batter. "Were just aggressive. I cant stand putting people on base," Peavy said. "My stuff was OK, but it makes all the difference in the world when you get a two or three-run lead early." Duensing lasted 6 1-3 innings, but he gave up nine hits -- Rios had an RBI double to cap a stretch of three straight extra-base hits that started the fourth -- and five runs while walking one and striking out four. One of those runs was unearned, due to a throwing error by Duensing in that rough fourth inning. He stopped a soft comebacker by Gordon Beckham but sent his throw well wide of first base, blowing an easy out and prompting manager Ron Gardenhire to rub his balding head before letting out a big sigh in the dugout. Thats the kind of mistake the Twins have been making lately, and being swept by the White Sox is a sure sign theyre struggling. They were 7-1 against their primary division rival this year until this weekend. "We have great players here. We had a good series," Rios said. "Everybody did a good job. Thats what we need, to get things rolling." Notes: The White Sox are the only AL team with a winning record on the road and a losing mark at home. Theyre 14-5 in their last 19 road games, including five wins in a row. ... Guillen gave struggling DH/1B Adam Dunn a day off against a lefty and said he hopes Dunn can start fresh and finish strong this season. The manager also said he wants the slugger to come to spring training next year in better shape. ... LH John Danks pitches Monday in Baltimore, facing RH Jeremy Guthrie of the Orioles. ... Danks has a 1.69 ERA since June 6, the lowest in the majors in that span. Andrew Cogliano .Va. -- Drew Brees stood on the sideline throughout the Saints first scrimmage of training camp on Saturday, resting a strained abdominal muscle on his left side and likely watching with envy as his backups cashed in on the big-play potential of rookie receiver Brandin Cooks. Ryan Getzlaf . The Browns have relaxed their media limitations to see rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel practice.The NHLs Mar. 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell while figuring out which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Check out todays trade-related reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. And follow TSN.ca through Deadline Day for all the updates. Be-Deviled Devils beat writer Randy Miller of NJ.com makes a case for New Jersey to acquire veteran forward Daniel Briere from the Montreal Canadiens, saying that Briere may not be happy with his playing situation in Montreal, could be a top-line centre with the Devils and would be closer to his sons who live in Haddonfield, New Jersey. Miller suggests that swapping Briere for defenceman Anton Volchenkov could work, as Volchenkov carries a $4.25 million cap hit through 2015-16 and Briere has a $4 million hit through next season. But not so fast... TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun says that while Briere wasnt happy about spending time in the press box, hes had an impact since returning to the lineup and the situation with both sides seems to have settled down for now. A source told him that a conversation Briere had with GM Marc Bergevin reassured him of his role and value to the team and with forward Alex Galchenyuk out for six weeks, Briere now should have a chance at regular ice time. Canucks Want List As written by LeBrun on ESPN.com, the Vancouver Canucks would like to add a centre before the trade deadline and, if not a centre, a top-nine winger. LeBrun says that Brad Richardson has been terrific as a No. 3 center for the Canucks, but feels if they can have him centring the fourth line and can upgrade the third center spot, theyd feel better about their playoff chances. If the cant they could keep Richardson in the No. 3 hole and upgrade the fourth-line centre job. He adds that the Canucks are deep on defence throughout the organization and could put a blueliner out there to make a meaningful deal. Patient Penguins The Globe and Mails Eric Duhatschek writes that the Pittsburgh Penguins could be interested in acquiring help on the wing with veterans like Ales Hemsky, Michael Cammalleri or Matt Moulson available, but will want to see how rookie Beau Bennett plays coming back off injury first. Dany Heatley. Hes expected back at some point next month and Duhatschek adds that GM Ray Shero would like to have him play a short stint in the minors before NHL play starts up again after the Olympics. The Penguins will expected to have Paul Martin back in the lineup by then, which leaves them with a surplus of defencemen. Sizzling Sens With six wins in their last eight games, the Ottawa Senators are in a dogfight for a postseason spot and re-signed general manager Bryan Murray is looking for another piece - most likely a forward - to make a run this spring. "Just watching the progress in the last month and a little bit, I think that the objective now is certainly more than it was a month before," Murray said on a conference call. "We are available to make a deal." On The Island According to Arthur Staple of Newsday, the New York Islanders have had some contract discussions with Thomas Vaneks agent, but both sides are waiting to see what direction the team goes in down the stretch. Im sure well talk, but Im trying to stay out of it," Vanek said. "Until something gets close, I need to focus on the games." Vanek is in the final year of a seven-year, $50 million contract he signed with the Buffalo Sabres. Staying In Denver? As per Adrian Dater of the Denver Post, centre Ryan OReilly and the Colorado Avalanche have agreed to wait until the summer to discuss a new contract. OReilly, whos making $6.5 million this season, is still a restricted free agent in July. On Feb. 28 of last year, the Avalanche matched a two-year, $10 million offer sheet from the Calgary Flames meaning the team cant trade OReilly for one year from the date they matched the offer. cheap jerseys ' ' '
