Buehrle dominates, Ramirez homers to lift ChiSox

[July 23, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Mark Buehrle pitched 7 1-3 innings and Alexei Ramirez hit the first grand slam of his career to help the Chicago White Sox beat the Texas Rangers 10-2 Tuesday night.

Nick Swisher hit a three-run homer, Jermaine Dye had three hits and Jim Thome reached base four times as the White Sox snapped a three-game losing streak.

Pitching on three days rest so he could attend his grandfather's funeral in Missouri, Buehrle (8-8) gave up a leadoff triple to Hank Blalock in the second inning and then retired 15 of the next 16 batters.

Buehrle's last start against the Rangers was his no-hitter on April 18, 2007. His only blemish on Tuesday night came in the eighth when he gave up a solo shot to Chris Davis.

Buehrle left to a loud standing ovation after allowing one run on six hits and no walks.

Luis Mendoza (2-4) gave up an RBI double to Dye in the first inning and got roughed up in the fourth, allowing Swisher's three-run homer and A.J. Pierzynski's RBI single to put Chicago up 5-0.

Mendoza was pulled after giving up consecutive singles to Dye and Thome in the fifth. He allowed six runs on nine hits in four-plus innings.

After getting the first two outs in the seventh inning, Justin Nippert walked Thome and Swisher around a single by Konerko before Ramirez's slam.

White Sox reliever Nick Masset was forced out when Milton Bradley's liner went off his chest in the eighth inning.

Notes: White Sox 3B Joe Crede was a late scratch from the lineup with lower back stiffness. ... The Rangers have not committed an error since the All-Star break. ... Dye missed Monday's game after getting plunked on the right knee by a pitch on Sunday.

[Associated Press]

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