Crede, Konerko homer to power ChiSox past Rays 5-1

[May 30, 2008]  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- While the Tampa Bay Rays have been the hottest team in baseball, the Chicago White Sox haven't exactly been slouches.

The AL Central leaders won the first-ever game at Tropicana Field between teams in sole possession of first place in their divisions Thursday night, cooling off the AL East-leading Rays 5-1 before of a crowd of 12,636.

John Danks (4-4) allowed one run and six hits in six innings to beat Edwin Jackson (3-4) for the second time this season. He pitched seven scoreless innings to beat the right-hander 6-0 on April 20, a loss that left Tampa Bay in last place at 8-11.

The Rays have gone 24-11 since then and entered Thursday tied with the Chicago Cubs for the best record in the major leagues. They've won nine of their last 11 series, including six straight at home since the White Sox won two of three games from them here six weeks ago.

Joe Crede and Paul Konerko homered and Carlos Quentin, Jim Thome and Orlando Cabrera also drove in runs for the White Sox, who are on a roll of their own with 12 wins in their last 15 games. Danks walked one and struck out eight to improve to 3-0 lifetime against the Rays.

Crede hit his ninth home run, a solo shot off Jackson, in the sixth inning. Konerko hit his sixth of the season leading off the eighth against Jason Hammel.

Carl Crawford had an RBI single in the third for Tampa Bay, which earlier in the day learned it will be without closer Troy Percival for at least two weeks. The 38-year-old was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain.

The Rays had plenty of other opportunities, but were 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position against Danks and relievers Matt Thornton and Octavio Dotel.

Boone Logan finished up with a scoreless ninth for Chicago, extending a stretch in which the White Sox bullpen has not allowed an earned run to 27 innings over its last nine games.

Notes: Since moving to third in the White Sox batting order 15 games ago, Quentin has 19 RBIs. ... Rays OF Rocco Baldelli (mitochondrial disorder), who has only played in 127 games over the past four seasons because of an assortment of injuries, went 1-for-5 as the designated hitter in an extended spring training game -- his first game action since going on the 60-day DL on March 28. ... The White Sox reinstated INF Danny Richar (fractured left rib) from the 15-day DL and optioned him to Triple-A Charlotte. ... The Rays activated INF Willy Aybar (left hamstring) from the DL. He went 1-for-4 as the designated hitter and scored Tampa Bay's only run.

[Associated Press; By FRED GOODALL]

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