Swisher homers from both sides to lift White Sox

[June 10, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Switch-hitter Nick Swisher homered from both sides of the plate and the Chicago White Sox completed a dominant four-game sweep, beating the Minnesota Twins 7-5 Monday for their seventh straight victory.

Paul Konerko hit a go-ahead home run as Chicago sent Minnesota to its fifth loss in a row. The White Sox outscored the Twins 40-15 in the series.

The White Sox went 7-0 on their homestand and increased their AL Central lead to 6 1/2 games over Minnesota. Chicago has hit 19 home runs during its winning streak.

Swisher hit a solo home run from the right side in the fourth inning against Glen Perkins. Swisher turned around and connected as a lefty for a two-run shot in the sixth against Jesse Crain.

Swisher has eight homers this year. He has homered from both sides six times in his career and is the seventh White Sox hitter to do it.

Orlando Cabrera had four hits for Chicago, matching his career high.

The White Sox trailed 5-4 when Cabrera doubled against Matt Guerrier (3-2) to start a three-run rally in the seventh. Alexei Ramirez singled and Carlos Quentin tied it with an RBI grounder. Konerko followed with his eighth home run of the season.

Matt Thornton (2-1) pitched one scoreless inning to get the win in relief of John Danks, who gave up four earned runs and eight hits in six innings.

Scott Linebrink struck out two in the eighth and Bobby Jenks pitched the ninth for his 15th save.

Jenks, who hadn't pitched in five days, escaped his own jam after Carlos Gomez led off with a double and Alexi Casilla singled. Joe Mauer grounded weakly back to the mound and Jenks started a double play, and Justin Morneau grounded out to end it.

Michael Cuddyer drove in three runs and Jason Kubel had a two-run double for Minnesota, which scored all of its runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

Perkins gave up five hits and three runs in 5 1-3 innings.

Notes: White Sox 3B Joe Crede was picked co-AL Player of the Week with Texas outfielder Milton Bradley. Crede hit .611 (11-for-18) with four homers, two doubles and 12 RBIs in the week ending June 8. ... Swisher is hitting .387 (12-for-31) during an eight-game hitting streak. ... With their hits in the ninth, Gomez extended his hitting streak to 10 games and Casilla pushed his to 11.

[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]

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