Joe Crede had many memorable moments in his nine seasons with the Chicago White Sox. The home run in Game 1 of the 2005 World Series, a grand slam against Minnesota in the 2008 home opener, as well as countless diving stops and Gold Glove-caliber play at third base.
In his first game at U.S. Cellular Field since signing with the Twins in the offseason, Crede hit a home run on Friday night in his first at-bat against his former team. Crede and Minnesota (3-2) get another shot at the White Sox (1-3) on Saturday afternoon when they continue their three-game set against Bartolo Colon, who looks to pitch Chicago out of its early-season slide."I felt like I'd played a nine-inning ballgame by the time I got to the clubhouse over here - just seeing everybody over there," Crede said after the Twins handed the White Sox their third straight loss. "Now, it's just about going out there and getting that win."
While Chicago did not re-sign Crede, who had two back surgeries in the past two seasons, the White Sox signed Colon to a one-year, $1 million deal in the offseason despite the veteran right-hander being sidelined three months in 2008 with back stiffness.
Colon is back on the South Side after going 15-13 with a 3.87 ERA with the White Sox in 2003, when he pitched a career-best 242 innings and nine complete games.
"I think everyone knows what Bartolo can do when he's healthy," Chicago general manager Ken Williams said.
But that has been a challenge for Colon, who has just 35 starts since winning the Cy Young Award in 2005 with the Angels. Last season, he went 4-2 with a 3.92 ERA with Boston while starting seven games due to injury.
Colon was not impressive in spring training, posting a 9.90 ERA prior to his six-strikeout effort over five innings in last Saturday's 2-0 win over Arizona.
"He's only complained once, with tightness, and that was very early in camp, but after that he bounced back right away," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen told the team's official Web site.
Colon is 8-7 with a 4.33 ERA lifetime versus Minnesota.
Francisco Liriano (0-1, 5.14), meanwhile, makes his second start of the season after losing Monday's opener 6-1 to Seattle. The 25-year-old lefty allowed four runs and four hits in seven innings in his first career opening day start, but the Twins are confident that Liriano, who had Tommy John surgery in Nov. 2006, can retain the form he showed in his 2006 rookie season, when he was 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA in 28 games.
"You never want to see an injury, but I think some of the stuff he's pulled out of it has made him a better pitcher," Minnesota pitching coach Rick Anderson told the team's official Web site.
Liriano makes his second career start against the White Sox. He allowed four runs and five hits over six innings in a 4-1 loss to Chicago on Sept. 25, 2005, in his third career start.
Paul Konerko had his first multi-hit game of the season Friday with a homer and double in four at-bats. He is 1-for-4 with a homer lifetime versus Liriano. Konerko is one shy of 300 career home runs.
Justin Morneau went 2-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs in the series opener. He has more home runs (17) and RBIs (74) in his career against the White Sox than any opponent. Morneau is 0-for-8 with three strikeouts lifetime against Colon.
