White Sox end slide, cool off Rays 4-1

[April 21, 2010]  CHICAGO (AP) -- John Danks pitched eight strong innings and Paul Konerko hit a solo home run and drove in two runs and the Chicago White Sox ended the Tampa Bay Rays' seven-game winning streak with a 4-1 victory Tuesday night.

Andruw Jones also homered and Bobby Jenks pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save for the White Sox, who snapped a four-game losing streak.

The Rays faced the White Sox for the first time since they were on the losing side of Mark Buehrle's perfect game on July 23.

Danks (2-0) allowed one run and two hits with nine strikeouts and two walks.

Tampa Bay left-hander David Price (2-1) allowed three runs and six hits in five innings. He struck out three and walked three.

Carl Crawford went 3 for 4 with a homer. He had all of Tampa's hits.

Danks' lone mistake came against Crawford in the first inning. Crawford homered on the first pitch he saw for his second of the season, but Danks rebounded and didn't allow a hit until Crawford reached on an infield single in the sixth inning.

Danks struck out Ben Zobrist and Evan Longoria to end the fourth inning and then struck out the first two batters in the fifth inning. Danks struck out Zobrist with runners on first and second to end the sixth inning and he capped off a perfect eighth inning by striking out Gabe Kapler.

The Rays, coming off a four-game sweep at Fenway Park, lost for the first time on the road this season.

Before the game, Major League Baseball reversed its ban Tuesday on Joe Maddon's pullover, telling the Tampa Bay Rays manager he can resume wearing it.

"Hoodie-gate is over," Maddon said. "I received a call today saying cooler heads had prevailed. I'm now able to wear the hoodie any time I'd like."

Maddon wasted no time, either. He wore it on the brisk, 54-degree night in Chicago.

After a walk to Carlos Quentin with two outs in the first inning, Konerko followed with a double off the right-field fence. Quentin scored from first after Kapler's throw from right wasn't cut off to tie the game at one.

In the second inning, Alex Rios took advantage of another failed relay by the Rays. Rios split the gap in right-center and headed to third for a triple. Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett had a shot at Rios on a relay throw, but his errant throw went into the stands, allowing Rios to score.

Jones homered on an 0-2 fastball from Price in the sixth inning. It was Jones' fourth of the season. Konerko added his fifth homer of the season off Tampa reliever Dan Wheeler.

NOTES: Buehrle is Wednesday's scheduled starting pitcher. "I expect to throw a perfect game every time I go out there. I know it's not going to happen, though. Obviously facing this team again, I'm not going to be thinking about the last time I faced them and what happened. It's a new year," he said. ... Chicago is 7-2 against Tampa Bay in its past nine games. ... Danks' career high in strikeouts is 10.

[Associated Press]

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