Danks strikes out 9 as ChiSox hand Harden 1st loss

[July 07, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- John Danks set a career-high with nine strikeouts, and the Chicago White Sox handed Rich Harden his first loss in a year, hanging on to beat the Oakland Athletics 4-3 Sunday for their 10th win in 13 games.

The Athletics got a run against Scott Linebrink in the ninth to pull within one, but Jack Cust flied to right with runners on first and second to end the game.

Danks (6-4) took a no-hitter into the sixth as the White Sox salvaged a four-game split after dropping the first two.

He had help at the plate and in the field from first-time All-Stars Joe Crede and Carlos Quentin while the White Sox built a 3-0 lead.

Crede drove in Quentin with a bases-loaded walk in the first and scored on Alexei Ramirez's single during a two-run fourth that made it 3-0. Quentin came through with a leaping catch at the left-field wall with one out in the sixth to rob Mark Ellis of an extra-base hit after Gregorio Petit led off with a single.

Danks escaped that jam but couldn't get out of the seventh.

He allowed a leadoff double to Emil Brown and one-out single by Daric Barton before Rob Bowen drove a two-run double down the left-field line. That chased Danks, who left to loud cheers after allowing four hits and walking two in holding the opponent to two runs or less for the 15th time in 18 starts.

Octavio Dotel came in and struck out Jack Hannahan, but the drama continued as Petit walked and Crede misplayed Rajai Davis' one-hopper to load the bases. Ellis then grounded to third to end the rally.

The White Sox made it 4-2 in the bottom half, when DeWayne Wise led off with a double and scored on A.J. Pierzynski's sacrifice fly.

Matt Thornton allowed a bloop single to Wes Bankston but struck out two during a scoreless eighth. Linebrink allowed a one-out single by Hannahan, and the trouble mounted. Pinch hitter Kurt Suzuki singled off Crede's glove, and Mark Ellis drove in Hannahan with a single to center before Cust flied out.

That gave Linebrink his first save in three chances, and the White Sox closed out an 8-2 homestand.

It was a rough day for Harden (5-1), who struggled with his control in his first loss since last July 7. He allowed three runs and five hits in five innings while striking out four and walking four.

Dominant when healthy, Harden labored from the start.

His problems started when Quentin reached on a throwing error by Petit, the shortstop, with two out in the first. Jermaine Dye singled, Jim Thome and Crede walked to force in the first run, and the White Sox tacked on two more in the fourth.

Crede singled with one out and, after Nick Swisher walked, came around on Ramirez's single to center. Wise followed with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 3-0.

Notes: Quentin, Crede and Dye -- one of five players on the final vote ballot -- received loud cheers when the All-Star results were announced before the top of the fourth. RHP Justin Duchscherer was Oakland's lone selection. ... White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said the team will monitor RHP Esteban Loaiza the next few days before deciding whether to activate him or send him to the minors. Loaiza, on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation, returned from a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Friday. ... OF Carlos Gonzalez missed his second straight game with a tight right hamstring, and OF Ryan Sweeney sat out with a swollen left ankle. ... INF Donnie Murphy, who had filled in at shortstop for the injured Bobby Crosby the previous two games, was out of the starting lineup with soreness in his right elbow. Rookie Gregorio Petit started at short instead.

[Associated Press; By ANDREW SELIGMAN]

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