Rios, Jays beat White Sox 3-2 for 4-game sweep

[May 19, 2009]  TORONTO (AP) -- Alex Rios hit a go-ahead triple in the eighth inning Monday and the Toronto Blue Jays completed a four-game sweep, beating the Chicago White Sox 3-2.

After Jim Thome tied it in the top of the eighth with his 548th career home run, Toronto bounced back against Octavio Dotel (1-1).

The Blue Jays own the AL's best record at 27-14. They start a nine-game road trip Tuesday night at Fenway Park when they play Boston for the first time this season.

Chicago lost its season-high fifth in a row and has dropped 10 straight at Toronto. The White Sox finished 1-6 on its road trip that started in Cleveland, a week that manager Ozzie Guillen described before the game as "horrible."

Dotel had not allowed a run in 14 games this season, a span of 12 1-3 innings, when he relieved in the eighth with the score 2-all.

Jose Bautista drew a leadoff walk and moved up on Marco Scutaro's sacrifice. Bautista stole third with one out, racing in without a throw as Dotel looked in for the sign while third baseman Josh Fields played well behind the bag.

Rios scored Bautista with a triple that skipped past a diving Scott Podsednik in center field.

Toronto led 2-0 until Thome's two-run homer. He tied Mike Schmidt for 13th on baseball's career home run list.

Jesse Carlson (1-2) got the win despite allowing Thome's shot. Scott Downs closed it out in the ninth for his fifth save in as many chances.

The White Sox have lost 12 of 15 since May 2 to drop from first to fourth in the AL Central.

Kevin Millar gave Toronto a 1-0 lead in the second with his second home run.

The Blue Jays added another in the third, taking advantage of an error by Podsednik.

Scutaro opened the inning with a fly ball to left-center and, sensing a collision with left fielder Jayson Nix, Podsednik slowed up at the last second. The ball bounced off his glove and rolled to the wall, sending Scutaro to third, and he scored on Aaron Hill's sacrifice fly.

Neither starter figured in the decision but both turned in strong performances. Tagged for five runs in a career-low 1 2-3 innings against the New York Yankees last Wednesday, Toronto right-hander Scott Richmond rebounded by allowing five hits in seven shutout innings. He walked one and struck out seven.

Chicago left-hander Clayton Richard gave up one earned run and three hits in a career-high seven innings. He walked three and struck out three.

Notes: Guillen rejoined the White Sox after a two-day leave. Guillen had been in Chicago attending his son's college graduation. ... Scutaro started one day after being struck in the chest by the throw on a steal of third base. ... Toronto 3B Scott Rolen made a diving stop and then threw from one knee to retire Fields in the third. Fields gave Rolen a tip of the cap as he headed back to the dugout.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.