Konerko homers, White Sox beat Rays 4-3

[July 21, 2009]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Paul Konerko hit a three-run homer to back a solid start by Gavin Floyd and the Chicago White Sox started a tough stretch by hanging on to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 on Monday night.

The Rays were at it again in the late innings after rallying to win each of their previous three games. This time, however, they came up short.

They threatened in the eighth but did not score and loaded the bases with two out in the ninth against Bobby Jenks before Jason Bartlett struck out to end the game.

Chicago's Carlos Quentin singled in four at-bats after missing nearly two months with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Scott Podsednik had three hits and scored twice, but Konerko's 18th homer was the difference as the White Sox won for the 13th time in 19 games. His three-run drive in the third gave the White Sox a 4-1 lead, and that was just enough for Floyd (8-6), who went seven innings to improve to 6-2 in his last 11 starts.

The Rays got to Floyd for just three hits -- all homers. Ben Zobrist and Evan Longoria went deep and Carl Crawford had an inside-the-park homer.

The Rays had a chance to tie it in the eighth when Bartlett singled with one out against Scott Linebrink and B.J. Upton walked. Matt Thornton came in and Bartlett was caught stealing third. Crawford then singled, putting runners on first and second, but Longoria struck out.

Jenks then escaped a tense ninth for his 22nd save in 24 chances. He walked Pat Burrell after striking out the first two batters and Willy Aybar singled, putting runners on first and second. Pinch-hitter Gabe Gross, whose bases-loaded walk forced in the go-ahead run against Kansas City on Sunday, then walked.

The tension mounted when Bartlett worked the count to 3-2 before fouling off a pitch. The crowd chanted "Bobby! Bobby!" as Jenks got him on a slider to end it.

The White Sox bounced back after a sluggish 10-2 loss to Baltimore on Sunday, getting Quentin back at the start of an 18-game stretch against teams with winning records.

David Price (3-4) allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings for Tampa Bay.

Crawford cut the Rays' deficit to 4-2 in the fourth. He led off with a drive to center and Podsednik decided to go for a highlight-reel catch rather than play the carom off the wall.

Bad move.

Crawford sprinted around the bases with the third inside-the-park homer at U.S. Cellular Field and his first since April 13, 2007. He also hit one against Toronto on April 6, 2005.

NOTES: Crawford's inside-the-park homer was the first at U.S. Cellular Field since Chris Singleton hit one for Chicago against Kansas City on Sept. 29, 2000. Seattle's Marc Newfield also hit one on June 25, 1995. ... White Sox C A.J. Pierzynski had thrown out just 4-of-59 base stealers when he cut down Crawford, the major league leader in steals, at second in the first inning. ... Chicago optioned outfielder Brian Anderson to Triple-A Charlotte to make room for Quentin.

[Associated Press; By ANDREW SELIGMAN]

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