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CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura named Addison Reed the team's closer on Wednesday.

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CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox's emotions were thrown into a mixer over the last three days.

On Sunday, they celebrated a sweep of their cross-town rival, the Chicago Cubs.

On Monday and Tuesday morning, they mourned the passing of former White Sox pitcher and special coaching assistant Kevin Hickey during his wake and funeral.

On Tuesday evening, they were beaten handily by the Minnesota Twins, struggling equally offensively and defensively in a 9-2 loss at U.S. Cellular Field.

“They’ve been dealing with (Hickey’s medical situation) all year, but the finality of it with Hick…” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “We’ve been dealing with it all year, so guys have been able to put it aside when they play. It could (be a reason for today.)”

White Sox starting pitcher Gavin Floyd and first baseman Paul Konerko admitted Tuesday was a difficult day for their team.

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CHICAGO -- Here’s a quick look at the Minnesota Twins' 9-2 win over the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on Tuesday.

How it happened: The Twins have been White Sox starter Gavin Floyd's nemesis. He came into the game with a 0-7 record with a 7.65 ERA in his last seven starts against Minnesota dating back to Aug. 31, 2009. On Tuesday, it got worse for Floyd. He allowed eight hits, nine runs and three walks and lasted just 3 2/3 innings again them. Floyd has had problems in his last two starts after a stretch of four strong outings. He gave up 10 hits and seven runs in his previous start. Gordon Beckham gave the White Sox a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a solo shot. Beckham has homered in three of the last four games.

What it means: The White Sox just can’t seem to get it right at home. They fell to 7-13 at U.S. Cellular Field with Tuesday’s loss. They also dropped back to under .500 for the season.

Outside the box: White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko was worried before Tuesday’s game about a letdown after sweeping the Chicago Cubs over the weekend. Last year, the White Sox won both series against the Cubs and went on to lose their following series.

Up next: Chris Sale (4-2, 2.91) will start Wednesday for the White Sox in the second game of their three-game series with the Twins at 7:10 CT at U.S. Cellular Field. Scott Diamond (3-0, 1.40) will start for the Twins.

CHICAGO -- Veteran infielder Orlando Hudson immersed himself Tuesday into the Chicago White Sox clubhouse during his first day with his new team.

Hudson, who was signed by the White Sox after being released by the San Diego Padres last week, exchanged hugs, handshakes and laughs with teammates, many of whom he already knew, prior to Tuesday’s game with the Minnesota Twins.

“There were other teams who offered more playing time,” said the 34-year-old Hudson, a two-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner. “I’ve played with (White Sox reliever) Jesse Crain. Me and Adam Dunn have known each other since we first signed, same agent. Me and Jake Peavy have been together a long time. When you’re close to guys, it makes you feel at home.

“It’s like home-grown here. It was easy to make the decision.”

Signing Hudson also made sense for the White Sox. He’s expected to help to fill in for injured third baseman Brent Morel, who went on the disabled list on Tuesday, occasionally play second base, provide some speed as a pinch-runner, be able to utilize his switch-hitting ability and bring some life to the clubhouse.

Hudson was released by the Padres on Thursday. He signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract with the Padres before the 2011 season. He is hitting .211 with one home run, 11 RBIs and three stolen bases in 35 games this season.

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As far as scary moments go, Friday’s events for Paul Konerko were right there at the top of his most frightening times in the game.

The White Sox captain was concerned about possible vision loss after getting hit in the head by Jeff Samardzija.

“In the first 20 seconds I had blurred vision and was a little worried,” Konerko said. “Once I realized it was skin that had swelled up over the eye and not the eye itself I was OK in my mind.”

Konerko missed the last two games of the Cubs series over the weekend as he waited for the swelling and bruising to subside around his left eye.

“It was definitely tough not to play those other two games with the wind blowing out 100 mph,” Konerko said. “You don’t want to miss those ones, but that’s the game we play -- sometimes you get hit and have to sit out.”

Konerko totally exonerated Samardzija for the pitch. The Cubs pitcher called Konerko in the Sox clubhouse on Saturday afternoon to see how he was recovering.

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Former Chicago White Sox pitcher Kevin Hickey was laid to rest on Tuesday after a memorial service at Saint Patrick's Church in Chicago.

Hickey, who was a special coaching assistant since 2004, died on May 16 after being found unconscious in his Arlington, Texas hotel room on April 5.

The entire White Sox team and front office attended the memorial mass. Pitching coach Don Cooper and catcher A.J. Pierzynski performed eulogies, as did members of the Hickey family.

Pall bearers included Pierzynski, Cooper, Paul Konerko, trainer Herm Schnieder and traveling secretary Ed Ed Cassin.

Hickey also was an accomplished softball player with the Bobcats Park District teams of the 1970s before his six-year MLB career began in 1982.

CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko will return to the lineup Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins after being hit in the face by a pitch against the Chicago Cubs and missing the past two games.

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CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox placed third baseman Brent Morel on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday and signed infielder Orlando Hudson to a one-year contract.

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STREAKING

1. Dayan Viciedo, LF: The hottest hitter in the lineup was benched on Friday due to Adam Dunn playing left field during interleague play. Viciedo has finally started to use the entire field in his hitting approach. He was 12 for 27 last week with four home runs and 10 RBIs. Hitting coach Jeff Manto has worked with him on keeping his head on the ball and not pulling off too early. One scout told me last week that Viciedo could be the next big-time home run champion when gets it all figured out.

2. Addison Reed, Closer: The newest White Sox closer is coming off his best and highest profile week of the season. Reed was supposed to be the closer coming out of spring training only to see Hector Santiago given the role. After Santiago and Matt Thornton failed to keep the job, manager Robin Ventura handed the ball to Reed, who consistently hits 98 mph on the radar gun. Reed had three saves and did not allow a run last week. The Sox appear to have found their closer for now.

SLUMPING

1. Alex Rios, RF: He continues his up and down habits that have had him on both the Streaking and Slumping list from week to week. Rios dropped an easy fly ball during the Cub series, allowing a brief ninth-inning rally to get going. Rios was 5 for 22 with with one RBI last week. He is still batting .272 with a home run and 15 RBIs this season. The Sox will stay with Rios knowing he will break out of it at some point.

2. Brent Morel, 3B: The young third baseman has made this list four times this season. A Trip to the disabled list is likely due to back spasms that have limited him since early March. With the signing of veteran infielder Orlando Hudson, Morel may get an extended period of time to rehab in order to find his batting stroke. Last week was typical of his season, going 3 for 22 with no home runs and one RBI. The only streak of solid hitting for Morel was last September when he hit eight home runs.

ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine takes your Cubs and White Sox questions during a live chat at noon Tuesday. Click here to submit your questions.

CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox pitcher Philip Humber has had a 30-day span where at points he’d like to always remember and others he’d like to forget.

Here’s a rundown of what the last 30 days have been like for him:

April 21: Humber throws the 21st perfect game in major league baseball history against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. The ninth inning was his shakiest inning. He went to a 3-0 count on the leadoff hitter and came back to strikeout him out. The final hitter tried to check his swing on a 3-2 count, but was called out. The pitch had hit the ground, and catcher A.J. Pierzynski threw the ball to first baseman Paul Konerko for the 27th out. Humber was knocked over and piled on by his teammates afterward, and that is what he’ll remember most about his historic day.

“The celebration, I think that’s the best of the game, when it’s over and everyone is rushing the field and all the excitement,” Humber said on Sunday. “That’s something I didn’t think about. I had never been a part of one. I had never seen a perfect game or no-hitter thrown. You don’t think everyone is so excited for it to happen. That was really neat to see, really neat to experience.”

April 22: Model Kate Upton tweets Humber, “Congrats to @Philip_Humber of the White Sox for getting into the Perfect Club. Looking forward to fitting your jacket! #2ksports hah.”

April 23: Humber receives a congratulatory phone call from President Barack Obama, a White Sox fan. Humber also makes many media appearances with his biggest on “The Late Show with David Letterman” doing the Top Ten list, “Thoughts That Went Through Philip Humber's Mind During His Perfect Game.” No. 8 was, “Thank goodness for my catcher, A.J. Pierzanky … Piernoftski … Pierzonski … whatever.”

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ESPNChicago's Doug Padilla and Bruce Levine break down the White Sox's sweep of the Cubs at Wrigley and discuss how much longer Alfonso Soriano will stay in the lineup.

CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox had shown as much consistency over the last month as the city’s weather prior to arriving to Wrigley Field for the weekend showdown.

They won. They lost. Their starters pitched great. Their starters pitched awful. Their bullpen was unhittable and then very hittable. Their lineup followed the same trend and was productive on some days and non-existent on others.

Leading up to Friday, the White Sox had been winless in their previous eight series. They lost five of those series and split three others, and they were 9-15 overall in games during that stretch. The last series they won was a three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners from April 20-22.

And then, they welcomed themselves to the Friendly Confines.

While the Cubs said goodbye to Kerry Wood in his retirement and dissipated any small hope for this season, the White Sox soared in the opposite direction. They celebrated three consecutive wins over their North Side rival, finishing with a 6-0 victory on Sunday, and swept the Cubs at Wrigley Field for the first time since 1999. They also returned to .500 for the first time since May 2 and moved within 2 ½ games of first place in the American League Central.

All in all, there was plenty for the White Sox to feel good about as they head back to the South Side for six consecutive home games.

“Obviously interleague is a kind of a cool change of pace for everyone, especially with a rivalry with the Cubs,” said White Sox slugger Adam Dunn, who homered on Sunday. “It adds a little extra incentive. For us to go out and play well three games is kind of icing on the cake.”

The White Sox nearly had every component clicking in the three wins.

Starting pitching: Phil Humber, John Danks and Jake Peavy combined to allow 11 hits and two runs in 19 innings in the series.

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CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox went to the power game for a second consecutive day, finishing off the series sweep Sunday with a 6-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

How it happened: With the wind blowing out of Wrigley Field for the first time this season, only the White Sox took advantage, hitting three home runs. It was the second consecutive day the White Sox hit three home runs in a game, matching their season high. Jake Peavy gave up just three hits over 6 1/3 innings. Cubs starter Paul Maholm, who had won his last four decisions, gave up five runs for the first time since giving up six runs in each of his first two starts.

What it means: The White Sox’s domination of the Cubs continued as they improved to 18-6 in the last 24 games of the series. It was the third White Sox sweep in the series and first since 2008. The Cubs have four sweeps in the series. Interleague play on the road seems to agree with the White Sox, who have now won 20 of their last 24 games in NL parks. The White Sox are 10-1-1 over their last 12 interleague series on the road.

Outside the box (Cubs): The Cubs haven’t posted a winning record in interleague play since 2007 and didn’t help themselves this year with the three-game sweep at the hands of the White Sox. The Cubs are now 103-120 all time in interleague play, which started in 1997. They were 5-10 against the American League last season. They went 8-4 in that 2007 season, the last time they had a positive interleague record.

Outside the box (White Sox): Dunn hit two home runs against the Cubs during the weekend series and now has 43 career homers against them. It’s the most home runs Dunn has against one team. The Milwaukee Brewers rank second with 34 home runs. He has also hit 27 career home runs at Wrigley Field. Dunn’s current club remains the only team he has never hit a home run against.

Off beat: In the eighth inning, a Wrigley Field usher in the upper deck managed to get cheers from fans of both teams. When he took away a broom from a White Sox fan celebrating the sweep, he was cheered by Cubs fans. But as he walked the upper deck with it in hand, White Sox fans cheered the broom as it went past.

Up next: The Cubs will take on the Houston Astros on Monday with Matt Garza (2-1, 2.58 ERA) facing Bud Norris (4-1, 3.58) in the 7:05 p.m. start from Minute Maid Park. The White Sox will have an off-day Monday and then take on the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday with Gavin Floyd (3-4, 3.44) taking on P.J. Walters (1-1, 3.65) in the 7:10 p.m. start from U.S. Cellular Field.

CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox third baseman Brent Morel is likely headed to the disabled list due to a bulging disc in his back and will replaced by soon-to-be acquired Orlando Hudson, manager Robin Ventura said on Sunday.

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