Recap: Chicago WSox vs. Cleveland
Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Paul Konerko belted the go-ahead grand
slam in the sixth inning, one of his career-best three home runs, as the
White Sox topped Cleveland, 10-6, in the opener of a three-game series
between these American League Central rivals.
Konerko hit a solo homer in the second, his eighth career grand slam in
the pivotal sixth and a two-run shot in the seventh. His seven RBI are a
career- high. Konerko, who has 16 homers this season, has hit seven of
them over his last 13 games.
Mark Buehrle (9-2) threw seven innings to remain unbeaten over his last
six outings. The left-hander allowed seven hits and three runs, walked one
and fanned three to win his third consecutive decision. He's also won 12
of his last 13 home decisions going back to last season.
"It was another typical Buehrle day," said White Sox manager Ozzie
Guillen. "His pitch count was really good. He could have gone another
inning."
Alexei Ramirez also homered for the White Sox, who won for the eighth
time in 10 contests.
Grady Sizemore smacked a pair of homers and Shin-Soo Choo added a solo
shot for the Indians, who lost for the seventh time in nine games.
Jeremy Sowers (2-7) continued his downfall on the road. The southpaw,
who fell to 0-6 lifetime against the White Sox, has dropped all four of
his away decisions this season and is 5-15 in 28 career road starts.
"Jeremy was pretty good those first three, four innings, sometimes in
the fifth, sometimes in the sixth," said Indians manager Eric Wedge. "Then
he struggles from there."
Choo homered to center with two outs in the sixth to give the Indians a
3-1 edge, but Sowers gave up a one-out double to Ramirez, a single to
Jermaine Dye and then walked Jim Thome to load the bases. Chris Perez came
on in relief, but Konerko drilled a 2-0 offering over the wall in left
field.
"It was one of those days were I didn't feel all that different going
into it," said Konerko. "I was just having good at-bats and making good
decisions."
Gordon Beckham doubled in Jayson Nix later in the sixth, and Chicago
tacked on four runs in the seventh as Ramirez and Konerko each hit two-run
homers off Winston Abreu. Ramirez's hit came after a walk to Scott
Podesdnik, while Konerko's blast to left came after Thome singled with one
out.
Sizemore hit a two-run homer off D.J. Carrasco in the eighth, and Jamey
Carroll singled in Travis Hafner in the ninth.
Sizemore homered to right with one out in the first. After Konerko tied
the game with his homer to center in the second, Hafner singled in Choo in
the fourth for a 2-1 Cleveland edge.