Crain hoping new blood reverses Sox’ luck vs. Twins

If you can’t lose to ’em ... join ’em?

As far as Jesse Crain is concerned, it makes perfect sense.

A key performer for the White Sox’ biggest rival the past seven seasons, Crain helped Minnesota post a 71-58 record over the South Siders since 2004.

Now, the right-handed relief pitcher has switched sides, and he couldn’t be happier.

“I think sometimes it creeps into your head because that’s the way it was when I was up there (Minnesota) and we played the Yankees,” Crain said at the Sox’ training camp in Glendale, Ariz., on Saturday. “No matter what we did, it seemed like they would come back and beat us. But as for playing (the White Sox), there are a couple different guys here now and hopefully that’ll help change things.

“I don’t think Edwin (Jackson) feels that way, he’s pretty new. I don’t think (Adam) Dunn, obviously he’s never been over in this leagues. And hopefully, I can help change that and we can move forward and win some of those games.”

Crain helped the Twins win 13 of 18 against the Sox last season, and he did not allow a run in 10 innings when facing his new team.

So, why have the White Sox had such a tough time against Minnesota in recent years?

“It’s a hard question to answer,” Crain said. “There’s really no way to answer that question. It’s just the way baseball goes. Sometimes you win games and sometimes you lose games. I will say those guys (Twins) always play hard, they play to the end.

“That’s the thing — when you’re over there the game is never over. It was always like, ‘We have a chance. Something’s going to happen, somebody’s going to start a rally to get something going.’ It’s hard to explain. Sometimes teams have another team’s number.”

Crain knows full well how it feels to be on the other end of an extended mismatch.

While the Twins have been running roughshod over the Sox for years, they have faced even worse treatment in head-to-head meeting with the Yankees.

“The Yankees had the Twins’ number the whole time I was over there,” Crain said. “We might have won one playoff game against them (in 2004),” Crain said. “Other than that, we got swept by them (in the postseason) and we won only a handful of games at most in those seven years I was there.”

Moving from the Metrodome to Target Field last season, the Twins won their sixth AL Central title in nine years and were hoping the switch to an outdoor stadium would change their luck in the playoffs.

Instead, New York swept Minnesota in the American League Division Series for the second year in a row.

Could the Twins carry another crushing October exit into the upcoming season?

“Maybe,” Crain said. “It is frustrating to make it to the playoffs that many times and not win a game. You play that many games over a whole season and it’s like, ‘All right, we made it.’ Then you go into the playoffs and lose three games in a row. It’s pretty frustrating.”

Now that Crain is on the other side, maybe the Sox will finally be exciting when they face Minnesota.

“I think we have one of the best rotations, if not the best, definitely in the division if not in the league,” Crain said. “I think our bullpen’s going to be strong having those three lefties (Matt Thornton, Chris Sale, Will Ohman) out there along with me, (Sergio) Santos and (Tony) Pena. I’m looking forward to it.

“You know this lineup can hit a home run whenever, so talk about the game never being over, at that ballpark (U.S. Cellular Field) and with the guys we have, one swing of the bat can change the game, no matter if it’s the first inning or ninth inning.”