Pierzynski, Quintana lead White Sox over Cards 6-1

[June 13, 2012]  ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A.J. Pierzynski hit a two-run homer, rookie left-hander Jose Quintana allowed one run over 5 1-3 innings and the streaking Chicago White Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 Tuesday night.

Paul Konerko had three singles on a 3-for-4 night to lift his majors-best average to .373, Adam Dunn added a solo homer -- his 21st -- and Orlando Hudson hit a two-run triple for Chicago.

Quintana (2-1), making his fifth start, allowed a career-high 10 hits but did not issue a walk and was helped out by three double plays.

Chicago has won eight straight road games and is a major league-best 17-6 since May 17.

The Cardinals are moving in the opposite direction, dropping three of their last four to fall back to .500 (31-31).

Matt Holliday went 2 for 4 with a run scored for St. Louis. Allen Craig drove in the Cardinals' run with an RBI single in the sixth.

St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright (5-7) lasted seven innings and allowed half the amount of hits as Quintana. He gave up two runs while striking out seven and walking two.

Konerko ignited the only rally off Wainwright with a leadoff single to start the second inning. He was erased by Alex Rios' fielder's choice, but Pierzynski kept the line moving with a single to center. Hudson then plated Rios and Pierzynski with a two-out triple to right center that glanced off right fielder Carlos Beltran's glove.

The White Sox blew it open with four runs in the eighth off relievers Marc Rzepczynski and Mitchell Boggs. Rzepczynski gave up an RBI single to Gordon Beckham, who was thrown out trying to advance to second, and Dunn's 436-foot bomb over the Cardinals' bullpen in right field to make it 4-1. Boggs relieved Rzepczynski and gave up a single to Konerko and a 408-foot line shot into the stands in right by Pierzynski.

NOTES: The matchup of St. Louis skipper Mike Matheny and Chicago's Robin Ventura marked the first meeting of rookie managers in a Cardinals game since interim manager Mike Jorgensen and first-year San Diego skipper Bruce Bochy squared off in 1995. ... Prior to his triple, Hudson was hitting just .182 (10 for 55) since joining the White Sox on May 22. ... Holliday returned to the lineup after sitting out two games with back spasms. ... Dunn also fanned twice, giving him a major league-leading 98 strikeouts. ... The Cardinals' Rafael Furcal is hitless on the current homestand (0-for-15).

[Associated Press]

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