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Viciedo returns to starting lineup against Twins

MINNEAPOLIS -- Dayan Viciedo made his first start in eight games Friday night at Target Field.

The White Sox outfielder had missed six straight starts and eight of the club's previous nine games because of a sore left thumb.

"It's just one of those, he's feeling better," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "We'll run him out there and get him back in the fold."

Viciedo noted earlier that, at the plate, he's always felt fine and had no issues gripping the bat, but fielding was another matter. He wasn't able to close his glove completely, according to Ventura.

"It was more of just being able to put his hand in the glove and for whatever reason it just didn't feel like he could close his glove," Ventura said. "Hitting-wise, he wasn't complaining about it at all."

Now that he's back in the lineup, he admitted that he was a little nervous about stepping into the batter's box, simply because he hasn't consistently hit since his last start.

"You're always going to have apprehensive feeling, but I know I have to get past that and get the job done," Viciedo said through translator and White Sox coach Lino Diaz.

Viciedo did pinch-hit on Wednesday at Detroit and was hitless in his one at-bat. At the time, as far as his thumb was concerned, he said he felt fine and again "felt a little bit off just because I haven't seen live pitching" in a while.

Viciedo singled home two runs in the second inning and finished Friday's 5-2 win 2-for-4 with a double.

Kelly Erickson is an associate reporter for MLB.com.
Read More: Chicago White Sox, Dayan Viciedo