Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Joe Mauer drove in two runs and the Minnesota Twins prevailed, 3-2, over the White Sox to move to within a half- game of Chicago for the lead in the AL Central.

Delmon Young had three hits and Denard Span knocked in the other run for the Twins, who have won the first two tests of this pivotal three-game series.

"(Mark) Buehrle's always tough on us," said Minnesota first baseman Justin Morneau. "It was good to get him to throw a lot of pitches early. He hung around for a while but we got just enough. Big win."

Nick Blackburn (11-10) came away with the win after he gave up two runs on eight hits in five innings of work. Four relievers combined to allow just one hit the rest of the way.

Ken Griffey Jr. homered for the wilting White Sox, who have dropped five of their last seven contests. Orlando Cabrera, A.J. Pierzynski and Alexei Ramirez each registered two hits in the loss.

Buehrle (14-12) was saddled with the defeat after he allowed three runs on eight hits in seven innings.

Minnesota got on the board in the opening frame. Span walked to begin the inning, moved to third on an Alexi Casilla base hit and scurried home when Mauer grounded into a fielder's choice.

Chicago quickly tied the game in its next turn at the plate. Jim Thome smacked a leadoff double and scored on a Griffey groundout. The White Sox had the bases loaded with two outs later in the inning, but DeWayne Wise went down swinging to end the threat.

The Twins countered with two runs in their half of the second. Nick Punto reached on a fielder's choice and Carlos Gomez had a bunt single before Span slapped a run-scoring single to center. Casilla then walked to load the bases for Mauer, who beat out a potential double-play grounder for another run.

Griffey's 611th career homer, a one-out blast to right in the fourth, made it a one-run affair.

The Twins bullpen then silenced Chicago's bats the rest of the way.

Craig Breslow retired the White Sox in order in the sixth, Boof Bonser worked around a two-out single by Cabrera in the seventh and Jose Mijares tossed a 1-2-3 eighth for Minnesota. Joe Nathan overcame a two-out walk to pinch-hitter Nick Swisher in the ninth to notch his 39th save of the year and 200th of his career.