Konerko's go-ahead single lifts Chicago to 7-4 win

[June 02, 2011]  BOSTON (AP) -- Paul Konerko hit a go-ahead single in the seventh inning and a two-run homer in the ninth to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 7-4 win over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday and a sweep of their three-game series.

Boston, which had just two hits in the last seven innings, lost its fourth straight game for the first time since a six-game, season-opening slide.

Gavin Floyd (6-5) allowed four runs in 6 2-3 innings and improved to 2-5 in day games. Sergio Santos pitched the ninth for his ninth save in 10 opportunities.

Matt Albers (1-3) replaced Tim Wakefield to start the seventh and retired just one of the four batters he faced, allowing singles to the other three, including one to Konerko.

Konerko's homer was the 377th of his career, tying Norm Cash and Jeff Kent for 64th place all-time. He has 12 this season and two in his last two games.

The White Sox won their seventh straight game at Fenway Park, their longest winning streak there since they also won seven in 1958-59. They are 13-2 in their last 15 in Boston. Chicago is now 9-1 against Boston beginning with the start of last season.

White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez wrapped up an outstanding series by going 3 for 5 with three runs and an RBI. He was 9 for 14 in the three games.

The Red Sox battered Floyd through the first two innings with three runs and seven hits.

In the first, singles by Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez put runners at first and third with no outs, but Kevin Youkilis grounded into a double play.

Then Boston took a 3-0 lead in the second when five of the first six batters got hits. David Ortiz led off with a double and took third on a single by Carl Crawford. Jed Lowrie's ground-rule double drove in one run and, after Josh Reddick struck out, Jarrod Saltalamacchia's single drove in two more.

Floyd didn't allow another hit until the sixth, when Ortiz led off with his 13th homer of the season, tying the game at 4.

The White Sox managed just one hit off Wakefield in the first three innings and then scored four in the next three.

They got a run in the fourth on a walk to Ramirez, a passed ball and an RBI double by Brent Lillibridge, and they tied the game at 3 with two runs in the fifth.

Ramon Castro walked, took second on a single by Gordon Beckham and third when Juan Pierre grounded into a forceout at second. Castro then scored on a groundout by Ramirez, and Pierre, who had stolen second, came in on a double by Carlos Quentin.

Lillibridge put Chicago ahead 4-3 in the sixth with his sixth homer before Ortiz tied it with his second homer in as many days.

NOTES: Ortiz hit his 144th homer at Fenway Park, one behind Bobby Doerr for fifth in Red Sox history. In Tuesday night's 10-7 loss, he passed Manny Ramirez (142) for sixth place. Ortiz hit 10 homers in May. ... Red Sox lefty reliever Rich Hill left the game in the seventh with a left forearm injury after facing just one batter. He walked Adam Dunn on seven pitches. ... Rene Rancourt, who sings the national anthem at Boston Bruins home games, sang it before Wednesday's game at Fenway Park while wearing a shirt with the Bruins' "spoked B" emblem on it. Boston and Vancouver were scheduled to start the Stanley Cup finals in Vancouver later Wednesday.

[Associated Press; By HOWARD ULMAN]

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