Konerko leads White Sox over Mariners

[April 26, 2010]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Paul Konerko hit tiebreaking drive in the eighth inning for his major league-best eighth homer and the Chicago White Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 3-2 on Sunday to complete a three-game series sweep.

John Danks pitched eight sharp innings for Chicago, allowing two runs and eight hits. Danks (3-0) was coming off a strong eight-inning outing in a victory over Tampa Bay.

After consecutive days of game-ending homers by Andruw Jones and Alex Rios, Konerko connected against Brandon League (2-1) to put the White Sox ahead 3-2. He has homered in three straight games.

Franklin Gutierrez went deep for the Mariners, who absorbed its first three-game sweep of the season. Seattle came to Chicago winners of seven of eight.

After striking out the first two batters in the eighth, Danks allowed consecutive singles to Ichiro Suzuki and Chone Figgins, but he ended another strong start by getting Gutierrez to fly out. He has allowed five earned runs in 29 innings this season for a 1.55 ERA.

Bobby Jenks worked the ninth for his fourth save in four opportunities. Casey Kotchman doubled and Eric Byrnes walked with two out, but Jenks struck out pinch-hitter Ken Griffey Jr. to end the game.

Jason Vargas allowed two runs and four hits in 6 2-3 innings for Seattle.

Trailing 2-1 in the sixth inning, Jones led off with a single and went to third on Konerko's ground-rule double. After A.J. Pierzynski popped out, Jones scored on Carlos Quentin's grounder.

Kotchman led off the fifth with a deep fly to center. Rios attempted a running catch on the warning track but was unable to make the catch as the ball bounced off the base of his glove. Kotchman easily reached third for his first triple of the season.

After Byrnes lined out, Adam Moore singled to right to give Seattle a 2-1 lead.

The start of the game was delayed 42 minutes by rain.

Juan Pierre helped the White Sox get off to a fast start in the first. The leadoff man was hit by a pitch and went to second on Gordon Beckham's single. He stole third and scored on Moore's passed ball.

Gutierrez tied it with a fourth-inning drive for his second homer in two games.

NOTES: Mariners SS Jack Wilson was out of the starting lineup for the second straight game with a thumb injury. OF Milton Bradley missed his fourth straight game with a calf injury. Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu hopes to get both back for Monday's game in Kansas City.

[Associated Press]

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