Floyd outstanding again as White Sox beat A's 4-1

[August 02, 2010]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Gavin Floyd carried a perfect game into the sixth inning before settling for another outstanding outing, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 4-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday.

Brent Lillibridge hit a three-run triple for Chicago, which has won six of seven. The White Sox also improved to 20-2 in their last 22 games at U.S. Cellular Field.

Floyd (7-8) allowed one run and four hits in seven-plus innings, improving to 5-2 with a 1.06 ERA in his last 11 starts. The 6-foot-6 right-hander hasn't allowed more two earned runs in a game since a loss to Texas on June 2.

Floyd walked Cliff Pennington with none out in the sixth for Oakland's first baserunner. He then surrendered a one-out single to Matt Carson. Two more singles for Rajai Davis and Daric Barton cut Chicago's lead to 4-1 and left the bases loaded with one out.

But Floyd struck out Jack Cust and got Kevin Kouzmanoff to ground out, limiting the damage.

Oakland starter Gio Gonzalez (9-7), who was drafted by the White Sox in the first round of the 2004 draft, pitched eight innings for his first career complete game. He had a career-high 11 strikeouts without a walk, and yielded six hits.

Carlos Quentin hit a one-out single in the fifth for Chicago's first base-runner against Gonzalez. Ramon Castro then reached on an infield hit and Gonzalez hit Andruw Jones with two out to load the bases.

Lillibridge, playing second in place of Gordon Beckham, followed with a hard liner to right field that got by a diving Carson before rolling to the fence. Juan Pierre added a bunt single to make it 4-0.

Floyd was backed by Chicago's strong bullpen. Matt Thornton induced a double-play ball by Barton in the eighth and J.J. Putz struck out Kouzmanoff to end the inning. Bobby Jenks struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 22nd save in 24 opportunities.

NOTES: Beckham rested. ... Oakland C Kurt Suzuki had the day off after only missing two games in July. He finished the month hitting .191.

[Associated Press]

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