Konerko hits slam, White Sox foil Lester, Bosox

[October 01, 2010]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Paul Konerko hit a grand slam that wrecked Jon Lester's bid for his 20th win, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Boston Red Sox 8-2 Thursday night in a game delayed because of a power failure.

The game was held up for 21 minutes in the sixth inning when most of the stadium lights went out. A power outage in the area was the cause.

Konerko connected for his 39th homer of the season and the ninth grand slam of his career. The fourth-inning shot off Lester (19-9) made it 6-2 and Dayan Viciedo chased the Red Sox ace with a two-run homer in the fifth.

Lester was trying to become the first Red Sox left-hander in 57 years to win 20 games. He gave up eight runs and nine hits in four-plus innings in his final start of the season.

Victor Martinez homered for Boston, which has four of its last five.

Juan Pierre stole three bases, giving him a career-high 66, as the White Sox finished 6-1 against the Red Sox. Chicago has won seven of eight since being eliminated from the AL Central.

White Sox starter John Danks (15-11) pitched six innings and allowed two runs on five hits.

Lester's 15-inning scoreless streak ended in the first inning. Pierre hit a leadoff single, stole second and third and scored on a single by Andruw Jones.

Pierre singled in the third, stole another base and scored on Jones' bloop single.

Lester ran into bigger trouble in the fourth. He allowed a leadoff double to Alejandro De Aza and issued walks to Pierre and Alexei Ramirez. Konerko connected for the game-breaking hit.

Marco Scutaro led off the Boston third with a double. After a sacrifice by Darnell McDonald, Martinez hit his 20th home run.

NOTES: Before the game, Konerko acknowledged he would like to remain a member of the White Sox but also expressed interest in leaving his options open. Konerko is about to finish his final year of a five-year deal that he re-signed with the White Sox after they won the World Series in 2005. "Obviously it's a business, so they have to figure out payroll stuff and when they do that, then hopefully I'm in their conversation, as far as being brought back," he said. ... Pierre stole 65 bases for the Marlins in 2003. ... Danks and reliever Sergio Santos combined for six consecutive strikeouts in the sixth and seventh innings.

[Associated Press]

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