Romero, Rasmus pace Blue Jays past White Sox 9-5

[June 06, 2012]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Colby Rasmus went 5 for 5 with a homer to help Ricky Romero earn his seventh win as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Chicago White Sox 9-5 on Tuesday night.

Rasmus and David Cooper hit two-run homers in the fifth off Phil Humber and both finished with three RBIs in Toronto's 13-hit attack.

Romero (7-1) pitched seven-plus innings, allowing six hits and five runs -- three earned. He gave up an unearned run in the first, a two-run homer to A.J. Pierzynski in the seventh after Toronto had built a 7-1 lead, and then a solo shot to Adam Dunn in the eighth before he was replaced by Francisco Cordero.

Chicago played without cleanup hitter and first baseman Paul Konerko, who was scratched from the lineup after having a procedure on his left wrist. Manager Robin Ventura said Konerko had a chip in the wrist flushed out, adding it's a condition Konerko has had previously. Ventura said Konerko should be ready to play Wednesday.

Rasmus hit his seventh homer of the season following a leadoff double in the fifth by Brett Lawrie, who'd been moved to the leadoff spot for the first time this season. After a two-out single by Yunel Escobar, Cooper connected to make it 5-1.

Humber (2-3) labored with his control from the outset and lasted only five innings, throwing 101 pitches, giving up seven hits, five runs and four walks. He has just one victory in eight starts since pitching a perfect game against Seattle on April 21.

Humber gave up a first-inning single to Rasmus and then walked three of the next four batters, forcing in a run when Cooper drew ball four on a 3-2 count with the bases loaded.

Chicago got the run back in the bottom half, thanks to two outfield errors by the Blue Jays. Alejandro De Aza singled and made it to second when left fielder Rajai Davis bobbled the ball. De Aza moved up on a sacrifice and scored when center fielder Rasmus missed Dayan Viciedo's shallow fly ball for the second error of the inning.

The Blue Jays had four straight singles off former teammate Zach Stewart for two more runs in the sixth. Rasmus added an RBI double in the eighth.

NOTES: Romero is now 3-0 in four career starts against the White Sox. ... Blue Jays DH Edwin Encarnacion (right wrist) remained out of the lineup Tuesday. He was hit by a pitch in the second inning Sunday and was removed in the fifth. "There's still swelling," manager John Farrell said. "There's progress being made." ... White Sox LHP John Danks (left shoulder strain) will throw a side session Wednesday and expects to make a rehab start before being activated from the 15-day DL.

[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]

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