Floyd helps White Sox beat Red Sox 4-1

[April 30, 2012]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Gavin Floyd carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, Adam Dunn hit a two-run homer and the Chicago White Sox beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1 on Sunday.

Floyd (2-3) struck out nine in 6 2-3 innings, yielding one run and three hits. He improved to 7-0 with a 3.21 ERA in nine career appearances against Boston, helping the White Sox stop a five-game losing streak.

Dustin Pedroia singled with one out in the seventh for Boston's first hit of the game. Cody Ross had an RBI single for the Red Sox, who had won six straight.

Dunn helped the White Sox get off to a fast start, belting a two-run shot to right in the first for his first homer at U.S. Cellular Field since Aug. 4 against the Yankees. Dunn's fifth homer of the season drove in Alex Rios, who put Chicago in front with an RBI single.

Red Sox starter Josh Beckett (2-3) settled down after the rough opening inning, shutting down Chicago until he left with two out in the seventh. He struck out eight and allowed six hits while matching a career high with 126 pitches.

But the three runs were more than enough for Floyd, who retired his first 14 hitters just eight days after teammate Philip Humber pitched the 21st perfect game in major league history against Seattle. Ross walked in the fifth for Boston's first base runner, but Floyd struck out Nick Punto to end the inning.

Boston finally got on the board in the seventh. Pedroia's liner got past second baseman Eduardo Escobar's diving attempt. He moved up on David Ortiz's two-out double and scored on Ross' hit.

Addison Reed then came in and got Punto to ground out, stranding Ortiz at third. Reed also got the first two outs of the eighth before Matt Thornton finished for his first save of the season.

Beckett's outing ended after allowing a walk to Brent Lillibridge to load the bases after a 12-pitch at-bat. Scott Atchison then got Rios to pop out to end the inning.

Dayan Viciedo added an RBI single in the eighth for Chicago.

NOTES: White Sox 1B Paul Konerko missed the game with a stiff neck. He is day to day. ... Red Sox slugger Kevin Youkilis was a late scratch tightness in his lower left back. ... Dunn finished with five homers in April after hitting 11 all of last season. ... The only time the Red Sox swept a road trip of seven or more games came in 1977 when they went 9-0 from July 29-Aug. 8, 1977. ... Floyd had a near no-hitter against Minnesota on May 6, 2008. Joe Mauer broke up the bid with one out in the ninth. ... Beckett last threw 126 pitches for the Marlins against the Houston Astros on May 20, 2004.

[Associated Press]

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