Humber pitches gem against Yankees

[April 26, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Phil Humber held the Yankees hitless until Alex Rodriguez grounded a single up the middle with one out in the seventh inning Monday night and the Chicago White Sox made the effort stand up with a 2-0 victory over New York.

The White Sox won for only the second time in 12 games. Chicago snapped a 23-inning scoreless drought in the fourth when Carlos Quentin doubled and scored on Adam Dunn's grounder, and added a run in the ninth after a popup fell behind the mound, in front of charging shortstop Derek Jeter.

Sergio Santos got the final four outs for his first save and Chicago's second save in eight chances this season. He gave the White Sox a scare, allowing a leadoff single to Curtis Granderson but Mark Teixeira hit into a double play. Rodriguez struck out to end the three-hitter.

Chicago was coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of Detroit. Manager Ozzie Guillen said some of the White Sox's problems could be attributed to the quality of pitching they were facing.

The often-traveled Humber (2-2) was up to the challenge against A.J. Burnett (3-1).

A waiver claim this winter from the Oakland Athletics, the former No. 3 pick overall by the New York Mets in 2004 was making his sixth career start and had never gone beyond six innings in the majors.

Humber started the seventh off with his sixth straight groundball out before walking Teixeira. A-Rod then hit a sharp grounder for the first hit, eliciting a cheer usually reserved for one of his home runs.

White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez and catcher A.J. Pierzynski immediately went to the mound to calm Humber after the hit, and the right-hander responded by striking out Robinson Cano.

Nick Swisher grounded out to first on Humber's 100th pitch, one off his career high. Humber walked two and struck out five.

Humber was originally drafted by the Yankees in 2001, but did not sign. He was probably best known in his big league career for being traded by the Mets to Minnesota in a package for Johan Santana in 2008.

Reliever Chris Sale got two outs in the Yankees eighth before Santos was called upon when Andruw Jones was announced as a pinch hitter. Manager Joe Girardi went to left-hander Eric Chavez, who grounded a single down the right field line.

Burnett, a fellow Mets draftee, had his best outing of the season. Pitching eight innings for the first time since Aug. 15, he gave up three hits and walked two.

The hard-luck loss was his first defeat in 15 April starts with the Yankees. He had been 8-0 with New York in April.

Yankees reliever Rafael Soriano, unavailable Sunday because of tightness in his back, gave up a run in the ninth. The inning started when Ramirez hit a high pop that dropped untouched behind the mound. Paul Konerko singled home an insurance run.

With one out in the fifth, Humber hit Swisher with a pitch, then induced Jorge Posada into grounding into a 3-6-3 double play.

NOTES: Burnett was drafted by the Mets in the eighth round in 1995. ... The last time the Yankees were shut out during the regular season at home was Aug. 20 against Seattle. The were shut out by the Rangers 8-0 in the ALCS on Oct. 18.

[Associated Press; By HOWIE RUMBERG]

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