GAME THREAD: AL: CHI WHITE SOX (32-42) at TAMPA BAY (33-43)

Homers earn White Sox sweep of Devil Rays

<h3>CHI WHITE SOX 5, TAMPA BAY 1</h3>ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Tampa Bay Devil Rayslefthander Scott Kazmir remained winless at home and the ChicagoWhite Sox continued to roll on the road.

Paul Konerko homered twice and Tadahito Iguchi added a solo shotas the White Sox defeated the Devil Rays, 5-1, on Thursday tocomplete a four-game sweep.

The White Sox have won four consecutive road games for the firsttime since a six-game streak from June 15-28, 2006.

Konerko's multi-homer game was the 21st in his career and thesecond this season.

Kazmir (5-4) struck out nine but left after 5 1/3 innings. Heallowed four earned runs in remaining winless at home this year.

The 23-year-old lefthander, who owns the American League's besthome ERA over the past two seasons, has not won at home sinceJuly 3, 2006 - a span of 14 starts.

Javier Vazquez (4-5) won for the first time in five starts,scattering seven hits in seven innings. For the 11th time in 15starts this season, Vazquez left with the White Sox tied orleading, but this time Chicago held on. Vazquez struck out 10,marking the 30th time in his career he has reached the plateau.

As in their previous three victories at Tampa Bay, the White Soxstruck out at least 10 times. This time, they failed to putthe ball in play 13 times, giving them 49 strikeouts in thefour-game series.

In the sixth inning, after Chicago's 10th strikeout, managerOzzie Guillen waved an empty pizza box toward the press box,signifying Tampa Bay's promotion that gives fans a free pizzaafter 10 strikeouts for the opposition.

In the past seven games, the White Sox have struck out 79 times.

In the second inning, Konerko's solo homer and Josh Fields' RBIsingle put the White Sox ahead, 2-0. Iguchi's blast in thefourth extended the lead to 3-0.

Luis Terrero's RBI single in the sixth and Konerko'sseventh-inning home run closed the scoring for the White Sox,who recorded their first four-game sweep since July 29-August 1,2005 at Baltimore.

Delmon Young extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13games for the Devil Rays, who fell a season-worst 11 games under.500.

 

Homers earn White Sox sweep of Devil Rays

<h3>CHI WHITE SOX 5, TAMPA BAY 1</h3>ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Tampa Bay Devil Rayslefthander Scott Kazmir remained winless at home and the ChicagoWhite Sox continued to roll on the road.

Paul Konerko homered twice and Tadahito Iguchi added a solo shotas the White Sox defeated the Devil Rays, 5-1, on Thursday tocomplete a four-game sweep.

The White Sox have won four consecutive road games for the firsttime since a six-game streak from June 15-28, 2006.

Konerko's multi-homer game was the 21st in his career and thesecond this season.

"Paul's been swinging the bat good the last month," Chicagomanager Ozzie Guillen said. "He can carry the ballclub."

Kazmir (5-4) struck out nine but left after 5 1/3 innings. Heallowed four earned runs in remaining winless at home this year.

The 23-year-old lefthander, who owns the American League's besthome ERA over the past two seasons, has not won at TropicanaField since July 3, 2006 - a span of 14 starts.

"I felt like I was attacking the strike zone," Kazmir said."It's just really frustrating. You just have to keep battling.It seems like everything is going good and I get in situationswhere I overthrow it."

Javier Vazquez (4-5) won for the first time in five starts,scattering seven hits in seven innings. For the 11th time in 15starts this season, Vazquez left with the White Sox tied orleading, but this time Chicago held on.

Vazquez struck out 10, marking the 30th time in his career hehas reached the plateau.

"I got in some trouble but threw pitches when I had to," Vazquezsaid. "This was a great four games. Hopefully, it's a startfor us."

As in their previous three victories at Tampa Bay, the White Soxstruck out at least 10 times. This time, they failed to putthe ball in play 13 times, giving them 49 strikeouts in thefour-game series.

"Right now, we can get away with that the way we're pitching,"Guillen said. "I don't care how many times we strike out, it'show many wins we have. I don't know how long we can keep it up,though."

In the sixth inning, after Chicago's 10th strikeout, Guillenwaved an empty pizza box toward the press box, signifying TampaBay's promotion that gives fans a free pizza after 10 strikeoutsfor the opposition.

On Friday, the White Sox visit the Kansas City Royals - who givefree donuts when the opposition has 12 strikeouts - for thefirst of a three-game series.

"We just went from pizza to donuts," Guillen said. "I don'tknow which one is worse for your health."

In the past seven games, the White Sox have struck out 79 times.

In the second inning, Konerko's solo homer and Josh Fields' RBIsingle put the White Sox ahead, 2-0. Iguchi's blast in thefourth extended the lead to 3-0.

Luis Terrero's RBI single in the sixth and Konerko'sseventh-inning home run closed the scoring for the White Sox,who recorded their first four-game sweep since July 29-August 1,2005 at Baltimore.

"We were due some wins," Konerko said. "There was no evidence(entering the series) we would sweep anybody. We struck out alot, but at the same time, we're swinging aggressively."

Delmon Young extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13games for the Devil Rays, who fell a season-worst 11 games under.500.

"Solo home runs, that happens and I'm OK with that, really,"Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "The home runs beat us a bitover this series. It's not like they've been pummeling us. Wejust haven't been able to score runs."