KITZBUEHEL, Austria -- Defending overall champion Marcel Hirscher posted the fastest time in the first run of a World Cup slalom in heavy snow Friday. The Austrian opened the race in 56.92 seconds. Felix Neureuther of Germany was 0.38 behind to become the only racer within a second of the lead. Luca Aerni of Switzerland, who started 27th, finished 1.36 behind in third, closely followed by Fritz Dopfer of Germany and Alexis Pinturault of France, who won the slalom in Wengen last week. "Visibilty was obviously bad," said Hirscher, who wiped his goggles immediately after crossing the finish line. Michael Janyk of Whistler, B.C., was the top Canadian in 17th place. Mario Matt of Austria skied out in the first run, which means Hirscher will remain in the lead of the slalom standings regardless the outcome of the second run. Hirscher is aiming to become the first slalom skier to win back-to-back crystal globes since Thomas Sykora in 1997 and 98. Its the final slalom before nations have to name their Alpine skiing teams for the Sochi Olympics. After days of mild weather, course workers salted the piste in order to harden up the surface, but the fresh snow made for difficult conditions. Furthermore, the unusual placing of some gates by Croatian coach Ante Kostelic made racing even harder. "On such a tough course the field gets torn apart," Hirscher said. Kostelic, the father of former overall champions Ivica and Janica, has made a name for setting challenging courses. A year ago in Kitzbuehel, the jury rejected a course set by Kostelic, deeming it as "unskiable." The course wasnt that extraordinary this time, though Neureuther said it was "by far the most difficult slalom in Kitzbuehel I have ever done." "Visibility is brutal, the course setting is extreme, and the piste is bad," the German said. "Its extreme but we are the best ski racers so we have to adapt to these conditions. I managed that quite well in the first run. I think nobody feels really well today." Nolan Kasper of the United States lost a pole when he tried to clean his goggles during the final part of his run. He still completed the final gates and came 3.34 seconds behind in 25th place. "Its definitely tough, its one or two gates in a row that get a lot of splashback," Kasper said. "Its not the snow falling, its the snow from the gate. Thats why I tried to wipe my goggles and dropped my pole. I am probably not going to do that next run." The second run will be held under floodlights later Friday. Custom Nike Minnesota Twins Jerseys . However, it wasnt a problem on Monday night. Evgeni Nabokov made 23 saves for his 56th career shutout in the New York Islanders 3-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night. 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MINNEAPOLIS -- Brian Dozier has been everywhere for the Minnesota Twins during a breakout season for the sweet-swinging, slick-fielding second baseman. So it was no surprise that he had his fingerprints all over an eventful ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox. Dozier started a superb double play in the top of the inning that snuffed out Chicagos chances of taking the lead and then delivered the game-winning single in the bottom of the frame to lift the Twins to a 5-4 victory Friday night. "The walk-off hit, it is what it is, but thats probably one of the best feelings Ive had in a while, to be honest with you," Dozier said of his defensive gem. The White Sox had already scored twice off closer Glen Perkins (3-0) to tie the game, and manager Ron Gardenhire decided to walk Gordon Beckham to load the bases with one out. Conor Gillaspie sent a high chopper in Doziers direction, and he had to make a split-second decision whether to come home with the throw or try to start the double play. He zipped a throw to shortstop Danny Santana, who fired a laser to Joe Mauer at first base that ended the inning. "Hats off to Danny," Dozier said. "If he doesnt have an AK-47 attached to his body, we probably dont turn the double play." Kurt Suzuki had three hits and an RBI and the Twins picked up Perkins, who blew his third save in 21 chances. In the bottom of the ninth, Daniel Webb (4-1) walked Eduardo Escobar and Sam Fuld with one out and Escobar beat the throw home with a beautiful slide to win it. The play was confirmed upon review. "I thought there was no way he made the plate, because I felt his hand on my cleat," White Sox catcher Adrian Nieto. "The replay showed he reached back with his right hand. So, he did a great job." Dozier, who is in consideration for the All-Star game thanks to his 15 home runs and stellar defencee, was mobbed by his teammates after the big hit and cheered loudly as he exited the field.dddddddddddd "Hes into the game pretty good," Gardenhire said. "Hes a fun player to watch play baseball." Beckham and Jose Abreu homered for the White Sox. Escobar drove in two runs and Ricky Nolasco gave up two runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings to help the Twins to their second straight win after a five-game losing streak. Hector Noesi gave up four runs, six hits and struck out four in seven innings for the White Sox, who lost for the sixth time in the last eight games. Nolasco got off to an inauspicious start when Beckham and Abreu hit 825 feet worth of home runs off him in the first inning for a 2-0 lead. Beckhams was a screamer into the second deck in left field while Abreus landed in the bullpen in left-centre for his 21st of the season, drawing boos from an impatient home crowd. But the offence picked him up. Escobars 22nd double of the season scored two in the three-run second inning and Suzuki drove in another to make it 4-2 in the third. Nolasco settled down after that, not allowing a runner past first base over the next four innings. But the right-hander who was brought in to stabilize the top of a lacklustre rotation has often run into problems with a big inning later in his starts and Gardenhire didnt take any chances when two hitters reached base with one out in the sixth. "I was lucky to give up just two runs to that lineup with the stuff I had," Nolasco said. NOTES: The White Sox had their 23rd multi-homer game of the season. They are 18-5 in those games. ... Twins RF Oswaldo Arcia returned to the lineup after getting two days off to try and clear his head during a 2-for-32 slump. He went 0 for 3 and was hit by a pitch. ... RHP Kevin Correia (3-8, 5.29) will take the mound for the Twins on Saturday against RHP Andre Rienzo (4-4, 5.67). ' ' '