White Sox building on division lead with 6-1 win vs. Mariners
The Seattle Mariners may have scored first, but they couldn't hold of the Chicago White Sox as they came back to win 6-1 at Safeco Field Monday night. Chicago center fielder Alex Rios was the star for the White Sox with two hits in four at-bats, knocking three runners home. The win, which snapped a three-game losing streak and was their 27th win in their 35 games, helped the White Sox stay on top of the AL Central at 51-41, two and a half games ahead of the Detroit Tigers. The Mariners continued with their losing ways, falling to 36-57. They are 18 games behind the Texas Rangers in the AL West and have lost for the 13th time in 16 games, and have tied their season-low of 21 games under .500.
Rios answered manager Ozzie Guillen's question of how the team would respond to blowing a late three-run lead to Minnesota on Sunday, when they lost 7-6, loudly and confidently with his go-ahead two-run shot in the top of the fifth. After all, it was his errant throw home that allowed the winning run to cross.
"We had a tough series in Minnesota, but we came back strong," the .307-hitting Rios said.
The Mariners' starting pitcher, David Pauley (0-2), gave up eight hits and three earned runs in six innings. The fill-in starter for Cliff Lee said he knew the mistake he made against Rios as soon as he made it.
"Left it up in the middle of the zone to a guy like that, who's got the abilities he has? You can't make that mistake in that situation," Pauley said.
Rios wasn't the only one to score for the White Sox Monday night. Omar Vizquel drove home Gordon Beckham on a ground out in the seventh, and in the eighth Andruw Jones homered while Beckham had an RBI double.
The White Sox found themselves in a late jam which chased Chicago starting pitcher Daniel Hudson from the game. Once Jack Wilson reached with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Hudson was lifted for Matt Thornton. Ichiro Suzuki singled and Chone Figgins walked, loading the bases, but Thornton fanned Casey Kotchman to make it out of the inning unscathed. Hudson made it out of the game with his first decision and win of the season. It was the longest outing of his young career.
"One day at a time. That's our philosophy," Guillen said. "No matter what happens yesterday, today is a new one."
Rios leads the way
Rios beat the Mariners single-handedly by knocking in the first three White Sox runs himself. General manager Kenny Williams told reporters after the game he didn't see a need to make any trade-deadline moves with Rios in the lineup.
"I've never seen a guy hit so hard for so long," he said. Williams also added that if Rios "had any luck" he would be hitting well over .400.
Rios' home run in the fifth was his 16th of the season and his 100th career dinger. He sat back and waited for his pitch, and knew he was getting it the whole way.
"Slider in. I was looking for something like that, in that location. I guess I put a good swing on it,” he said.
Carlos Quentin will not be out long
Andruw Jones filled in nicely with a home run for Quentin, but do not expect him in the lineup for long. Quentin, who injured his thumb on Sunday, will hopefully return Tuesday. He's an important part of their potent lineup with 19 home runs and 64 RBI. Guillen stated that Quentin could have played Monday but wanted a full day of rest for the slugger.
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