Suzuki, Bonser lead Athletics over White Sox 3-0

[September 21, 2010]  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Chris Carter finally got his first major league hit, Boof Bonser won for the first time in more than two years and the Oakland Athletics sent the White Sox to their seventh straight loss, beating Chicago 3-0 on Monday night.

Kurt Suzuki had three hits and two RBIs as the A's won their third in four games. Daric Barton also drove in a run.

Andruw Jones doubled and singled for the White Sox, who matched their longest losing streak since April 28 to May 5, 2008.

Chicago is on the brink of being eliminated from the AL Central race. The White Sox fell 11 games behind the first-place Minnesota Twins, who can clinch their second consecutive division title Tuesday night with a win over Cleveland and a Chicago loss in Oakland.

A's starter Gio Gonzalez allowed four hits in six innings, striking out seven and walking four. Bonser (1-0) tossed a perfect seventh for his first major league win since June 4, 2008, with Minnesota against Baltimore.

Michael Wuertz worked the eighth and Craig Breslow got three outs for his third save.

White Sox starter Gavin Floyd left after only seven pitches with tightness in the back of his right shoulder. He did not get an out.

Tony Pena pitched six shutout innings in relief, allowing six hits. He walked two and struck out two.

Scott Linebrink (3-2) allowed all three runs -- one earned -- in the seventh.

Carter's single leading off the seventh sparked the decisive rally. Carter was hitless in his first 33 at-bats, the longest streak to start a career by a non-pitcher since Texas' Vic Harris began 0 for 36 in 1972.

Linebrink's throwing error on Cliff Pennington's bunt put runners on first and second, and Rajai Davis beat out a bunt to load the bases. Barton's groundout allowed pinch-runner Greg Gross to score, and one out later Suzuki added a two-run single.

Chicago had runners on second and third with one out in the second but failed to score, and Gonzalez walked the bases loaded with two outs in the fourth before escaping.

NOTES: Floyd, who has struggled in his last few outings, is 3-0 with a 1.32 ERA in five career starts against Oakland. ... A's OF Coco Crisp missed his second game with a fractured pinkie and will likely miss the rest of the season. ... Breslow has four career saves. ... The White Sox have allowed 23 of their last 27 runs in the seventh inning or later.

[Associated Press]

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