are unlikely to qualify this year No changes can be made until the 2018-19 season due to TV and marketing rights to the competition, which are sold in three-year cycles.dddddddddddd The 2015-16 s

MINNEAPOLIS -- Last in the American League in hitting and scoring, the Chicago White Sox started to find some offence this week in Minnesota. Adam Dunns big bat has been a key part of that. Dunn homered twice, doubled and drove in five runs, powering the White Sox past the Twins 9-4 on Wednesday. The nine runs are a season high. "Pitching obviously wins you games, but as far as the energy level and things like that, if the team is hitting, then the energy level will be up," Dunn said, adding: "Hopefully it carries over and this is the start of something good." Dunn hit a pair of two-run shots for his 35th career multihomer game. Hes hit three home runs in the past two games and has nine this year. Dayan Viciedo also went deep for the second straight day, helping Dylan Axelrod (1-3) pick up his first victory this season. Dunn wouldve had four homers in the series if Twins centre fielder Aaron Hicks hadnt made a leaping catch over the wall. "Hes a guy youre excited to see up. When he gets hot, its fun to watch," Axelrod said. Mike Pelfrey (3-4) was hit hard yet again, failing to record an out in the fifth inning. Dunn was the last batter he faced, delivering an RBI double that put the White Sox ahead 4-2. The 33-year-old slugger hit both of his homers with two outs, in the third off a changeup from Pelfrey in an eight-pitch at-bat and in the eighth off Josh Roenicke. "Hes a strong young man and you throw the ball up there, hes going to get you," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. Dunn is 8 for 28 with seven walks and two homers in his career against Pelfrey. "I obviously didnt pitch in as effectively as I should have. He made me pay for it," Pelfrey said. Dunn finished 3 for 4 with a walk and still has the third-worst batting average in the majors, at .156, for players with the minimum amount of at-bats. But the White Sox didnt sign him to a $56 million contract to hit singles, and the 6-foot-6, 285-pound first baseman can still drive a ball deep with the best of them. "Hes been working hard all year to do what he does, and finally it looks like hes found something right. Thats good because he helps everyone," said teammate Alex Rios, who scored three runs on a 3-for-4 afternoon. Nine of Dunns 20 hits this season are home runs. After leading the majors with 222 strikeouts last year, Dunn has fanned 48 times in 2013, another 200-plus pace. Houstons Chris Carter has 60 strikeouts, tops in either league. For the White Sox, batting .236 with 136 runs in 38 games, both last in the AL, this resurgence couldnt have come soon enough. Dunn was pleased more by where the balls he hit, to centre field and left, went than how hard he hit them. "Ive had a couple of those pitches in a couple of these previous games that I rolled over and hit to second base," Dunn said. Rios has at least one hit in his past 10 games and is batting .390 during the streak. "Thats why hes batting third. He does a lot of good things," manager Robin Ventura said. Axelrod finished 5 1-3 innings, allowing nine hits, three runs and one walk while fighting through a leg cramp in the sixth. The right-hander struck out four, including Ryan Doumit and Oswaldo Arcia in consecutive at-bats in the fifth after Josh Willingham was hit by a pitch and Justin Morneau singled to start the inning. Jamey Carroll and Joe Mauer each had three hits, and Morneau added a pair of singles on his 32nd birthday. Eduardo Escobar homered off Axelrod, Willingham drove in two runs and Carroll added an RBI single against reliever Matt Lindstrom. Mauers 14-game hitting streak is his longest in four years and the third-longest of his career. Morneau has at least one hit in his past 11 games, batting .422 in that span. Pelfreys hold on a spot in the rotation has been slipping. The right-hander, barely one year removed from Tommy John surgery, saw his ERA spike to 6.57, the third-highest in the majors among those with a qualified number of innings. Opponents are batting .339 against him, also the third-highest in the majors. Pelfrey allowed eight hits, five runs and two walks while striking out three. NOTES: Twins RHP Vance Worleys ERA (7.15) and batting average against (.379) are still worse than Pelfreys. ... The White Sox sent 2B Gordon Beckham (broken left wrist) and INF Angel Sanchez (back injury) on minor league rehab assignments. ... Rios is a .372 career hitter at Target Field. His 42 hits here are behind only Miguel Cabrera for the most among Twins opponents. ... The Twins start a three-game series against the Red Sox on Friday, with Worley facing Clay Buchholz, who is unbeaten in six decisions this season. ... The White Sox begin a four-game road series against the Angels on Thursday. LHP Jose Quintana (2-1, 3.72 ERA) will pitch against RHP Jerome Williams (2-1, 3.06) of the Angels.Steven Adams Jersey . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. D.J. Augustin Jersey . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. https://www.thunderrookiesshop.com/Danilo-Gallinari-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break. Gary Payton Thunder Jersey . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. Kevin Durant Thunder Jersey . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014.UEFA is in talks with clubs to change the format of the Champions League from 2018.One of the proposals under discussion is an expanded knockout round followed by a group stage made up of eight teams in two groups.If the proposal were to be adopted there would be more games between the so-called big clubs. Each team in the group stage would be guaranteed a total of 14 matches home and away. CL changes Q&A SSNHQs Anton Toloui explains the proposed changes The format would also allow more clubs from Europes biggest leagues to qualify for the competition. AC Milan, who have won the European Cup seven times, have not played in the Champions League since 2014 and current Premier League champions Chelsea are likely to miss out next season.A new format is being discussed to head off the threat of a breakaway Super League. Some of Europes leading clubs, represented by the European Clubs Association, want a new format to increase revenues and make the competition more exciting. Chelsea won the Champions League in 2012 but are unlikely to qualify this year No changes can be made until the 2018-19 season due to TV and marketing rights to the competition, which are sold in three-year cycles.dddddddddddd The 2015-16 season is the first year of a three-year period.The process for selling the next set of rights will start at the end of this year and any new format would need to be agreed by then.A UEFA spokesman said: UEFA is in constant contact with all stakeholders, including the clubs, on all football matters.Therefore, any plans to evolve the format of our club competitions would be coordinated and negotiated together with them.There are currently no concrete proposals on the table since we are at the beginning of a new cycle of our club competitions.Also See:Leicester to be top seed in CL?Rooney v IbrahimovicFourth may not secure CL spotHenry on Champions League draw ' ' '