Swisher, Crede lead surging White Sox past Twins

[June 09, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Nick Swisher and Alexei Ramirez homered, and Joe Crede had another big day at the plate as the Chicago White Sox routed the Minnesota Twins again, 12-2 on Sunday for their sixth straight win.

The latest outburst came exactly one week after manager Ozzie Guillen lashed out at his struggling hitters. Their response?

Fifty-four runs during this streak. They've scored 10 or more in three consecutive games for the first time since July 15-17, 2000, against St. Louis and Milwaukee. The 15 hits Sunday gave Chicago at least 15 in three straight games for the first time since July 23-24, 1932, against Cleveland.

The most important number, though, is this: zero. That's how many losses the White Sox have since Guillen's tirade in Tampa Bay, and their lead over second-place Minnesota in the AL Central is now 5 1/2 games.

After winning the first two games of this four-game series 10-6 and 11-2, the White Sox quickly jumped on the Twins, who dropped their fourth straight and matched their longest losing streak since Sept. 12-16.

Swisher's three-run homer off Kevin Slowey (2-6) in the second made it 3-1 and Chicago broke it open with five more in the third, with Paul Konerko's two-run double highlighting that rally. Ramirez added a two-run shot in the fifth, giving Chicago 16 homers in this streak.

That was more than enough for Gavin Floyd (7-3), who struck out a career-high nine and walked one while allowing two runs and six hits in seven innings.

He had plenty of support from an offense that roughed up Slowey for eight runs in three innings -- after the start was delayed 89 minutes by rain.

Swisher, whose average has hovered around .200, has a seven-game hitting streak. He pumped his fist after rounding first on the homer and had more to celebrate in the fifth when he added an RBI double.

Crede, meanwhile, continued his surge.

He is 10-for-15 with 12 RBIs in his last four games after going 2-for-4 and driving in two runs on Sunday. After hitting homers in three straight games for the first time in his career, including two each on Friday and Saturday, Crede doubled and singled and scored twice.

One week earlier, Guillen unleashed a tirade that seemed to be aimed at general manager Kenny Williams and hitting coach Greg Walker after watching his team go 5-for-39 with runners in scoring position while dropping three of four at Tampa Bay. Guillen called for roster changes while saying his job and Walker's could be in jeopardy.

There were no major roster moves, but there is one noticeable difference. The offense is producing.

Notes: Twins 2B Alexi Casilla was scratched from the lineup because of a sore lower back. ... If Guillen's pants seemed a little dirty, there's a reason. He doesn't clean them during win streaks. "Hopefully, they turn black," he said.

[Associated Press; By ANDREW SELIGMAN]

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