Monday, August 22, 2011
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Floyd pitches White Sox past Rangers 10-0

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[August 22, 2011]  CHICAGO (AP) -- To White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, Brent Lillibridge's power is a bonus.

Gavin Floyd pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning, Lillibridge and Alex Rios hit two-run homers and Chicago romped past the Texas Rangers 10-0 Sunday.

After Juan Pierre reached on an infield single in the third, Lillibridge followed with his shot to left field. It was Lillibridge's 11th home run, matching slumping slugger Adam Dunn's output in 197 fewer at-bats. Dunn has been sitting against left-handers in favor of Lillibridge.

"I think this kid is a very strong kid. I never thought he'd hit 11 because I didn't think he'd have that much opportunity to play," Guillen said.

"I'm more impressed the way he helps us every time we need him. Right field, infield, and first base now," he said.

Chicago took two of three from the AL-West leading Rangers and finished a nine-game homestand at 5-4. The White Sox had their first winning homestand since June 3-12.

Floyd (11-10) coasted with a big lead. He allowed just three hits, struck out six and walked one. He left after giving up a leadoff hit in the eighth.

The Rangers have dropped three of four after winning the first six games on their 10-game road trip.

"We had a good road trip. Didn't end the way we wanted it to end, but we had a good road trip. That's a pretty good team over there, too. Their record may not show it, but there's days they can go out there and play baseball as well as anybody, and today they played better than we did," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.

Derek Holland (11-5) lost for the first time in five decisions since the All-Star break. The left-hander gave up five runs and eight hits in 3 1-3 innings.

After Holland issued back-to-back walks with two outs in the third, Alejandro De Aza split the gap in the left-center for a two-run double that put the White Sox ahead 4-0.

"I thought I was pretty pathetic. I came out and had good stuff in the first two innings, then the third inning things just kind of fell apart. I wouldn't consider it one of those big innings like everybody tries to talk about. I lost feel for my fastball, and with me, I have to pitch with my fastball," Holland said.

Chicago added on in the fourth. Gordon Beckham broke an 0-for-14 slump with a single and Lillibridge chased Holland with a single. Paul Konerko, who has been Chicago's designated hitter because of a sore calf, greeted reliever Scott Feldman with an RBI single, leaving him one hit shy of 2,000 for his career.

Pierre added a two-run single with the bases loaded off Feldman in the fifth for a 7-0 lead.

Rios homered in the eighth.

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White Sox right fielder Carlos Quentin was out of the lineup after he injured his left shoulder making a diving catch during Saturday night's win. X-rays came back negative and an MRI result showed a sprain. He was listed as day-to-day, and hoped to be back in two or three days.

"We're not 24 hours out yet, so I have to remind myself that it hasn't been that long since it happened," Quentin said.

Josh Hamilton was given the day off by Washington, despite being 6 for 10 lifetime against Floyd. Hamilton is hitting .173 in day games this year and .339 at night.

Floyd pitched around an error by Lillibridge in the second inning. Floyd had Mike Napoli picked off, but Lillibridge missed Floyd's throw at first. The ball bounced off the camera well fence and Napoli went into third. Floyd stranded Napoli at third by striking out Mitch Moreland and Yorvit Torrealba.

"I felt good. I just tried to carry in what I felt the past couple of games as far as focus," Floyd said.

Along with giving up a two-run home run to Rios in the eighth, Feldman gave up an RBI single to De Aza.

Washington stayed with Feldman for the rest of game, despite giving up five runs on eight hits in 4 2-3 innings of relief.

NOTES: After an off-day Monday, the White Sox begin a five-game road trip against the Angels on Tuesday. LHP Mark Buehrle is scheduled to start for the White Sox. Buehrle is 3-1 with a 2.29 ERA in his last five starts. ... The Rangers begin a four-game series against the Red Sox on Monday. LHP C.J. Wilson, Monday's scheduled starter, is 5-1 with a 3.99 ERA in 12 starts at home this season. ... Texas 3B Adrian Beltre (left hamstring) will see Dr. Keith Meister on Monday. Texas hopes he will be cleared to resume running the bases.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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