CHICAGO – White Sox reliever Chris Sale issued a pair of bases-loaded walks in the ninth inning and Chicago’s disappointing season ended Wednesday with a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

It seemed to be a fitting finish for the White Sox, whose year spun out of control. Earlier in the day, Ozzie Guillen was announced as the new manager of the Florida Marlins – the White Sox released him from his contract Monday.

Expected to be a contender in the AL Central, the White Sox wound up 79-83 with pitching coach Don Cooper serving as interim manager the last two games.

And now the search for a new manager begins with general manager Ken Williams saying he has a short list and a preferred candidate. Hitting coach Greg Walker also announced before the game Wednesday he was stepping down.

The Blue Jays’ victory gave them an 81-81 mark under rookie manager John Farrell as they finished fourth in the tough AL East.

Kelly Johnson doubled to start the ninth with Toronto trailing 2-1 and moved to third on David Cooper’s single. Colby Rasmus sacrificed Cooper to second before J.P. Arencibia was walked intentionally to load the bases. Sale (2-2) then walked Mark Teahen and Adam Loewen back-to-back, putting the Blue Jays ahead.

The rally denied Chicago starter Phil Humber his 10th victory after he gave up just two hits and a run in 6 2-3 innings while fanning a career-high nine.

Shawn Camp (6-3) pitched the eighth for the win. Frank Francisco worked the ninth for his 17th save in 21 chances.

The White Sox went ahead 2-1 in the fifth when Alexei Ramirez doubled down the third base line and a fan picked up the ball after it went into foul territory. Alejandro De Aza had opened with a single and raced home on the play.

But instead of sending De Aza back to third after the fan interference, umpires ruled he was far enough around the bases and would have scored regardless, so the run counted. Farrell came out for an explanation, but there was no long argument.

Toronto’s Eric Thames, the second batter in the game, hit an RBI double after a leadoff walk to Mike McCoy. The Blue Jays didn’t get another hit until Teahen singled off Ramirez’s glove at short in the seventh to finish Humber.

Chicago had tied it in the fourth on Gordon Beckham’s 10th homer, ending a streak of 18 scoreless innings by Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow. Morrow gave up five hits and two runs in six innings.

Chicago’s Adam Dunn, who needed six plate appearances in the final game to finish with the worst qualifying batting average in modern big league history, sat out the game. He finished with a .159 average in 496 plate appearances, had a club-record 177 strikeouts and hit only 11 homers after signing a four-year, $56 million dollar contract.

NOTES: Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista, who hit 43 homers and could finish as the major home run league champion in back-to-back seasons, wasn’t shy when asked who should be the AL MVP. “If I couldn’t vote for myself, then Miguel Cabrera,” he said of the Tigers star.” But if he could vote for himself, would he? “Wouldn’t you?” Bautista said. … White Sox LHP Mark Buehrle, who has pitched at least 200 innings in every season since 2001 and will be a free agent, reiterated that he had no idea if he would resign with the only team he’s ever played for. Buehrle said his preference is to return but added it might be interesting to see how another organization works. Either way, he said the White Sox don’t owe him anything. He signed a four-year, $56 million deal in 2007. “They’ve given me plenty, they’ve given me a chance to play baseball and given me tons of money,” Buehrle said. … Attendance was 20,524, running the season total at U.S. Cellular Field to 2,001,262. … Morrow struck out seven, giving him 203 for the season and making him the fourth Blue Jays pitcher to fan at least 200.

Miguel Cabrera homered and drove in four runs, and Detroit finished off its sweep in emphatic fashion, routing the White Sox 18-2 on Sunday night.

“At the end of the game, you are almost laughing because we couldn’t do anything to stop them,” said Guillen, Chicago’s manager. “Just have to move on.”

Max Scherzer (14-8) allowed five hits over seven scoreless innings, and Alex Avila scored a career-high four hits for Detroit, which leads the AL Central by 6½ games heading into a three-game series at second-place Cleveland. Chicago is 8½ back.

Mark Buehrle (11-7) allowed seven earned runs in 3 1-3 innings.

The Tigers trailed 8-1 in the fifth Saturday before rallying to win 9-8. They scored 26 consecutive runs and led 18-0 Sunday when the White Sox finally scored two in the ninth.

“We needed to come here and make a statement. We had to win two of three, if not sweep them, and that’s the furthest thing from what actually happened,” Buehrle said. “We’re not mathematically eliminated, but a smart man isn’t going to like our chances right now. We’re not going to give up, but we’re in big trouble.”

It was the second-biggest blowout in the major leagues this season, according to STATS, LLC. Cleveland beat Kansas City 19-1 on May 16.

Cabrera’s two-run homer into the bushes behind the center-field wall highlighted a seven-run sixth inning.

Although Justin Verlander is making a bid for the Cy Young Award, the depth of Detroit’s rotation has been an issue. Scherzer allowed seven runs in three innings against Kansas City on Monday, but he was much sharper against Chicago, striking out the side in the third and facing the minimum 12 hitters through the first four innings.

Not that Detroit needed a dominant pitching performance.

Austin Jackson led off with a double in the bottom of the first and eventually scored on Victor Martinez’s single. The Tigers scored three runs in the third. Martinez and Avila hit RBI singles, and when Jhonny Peralta hit a grounder to short for a potential inning-ending double play, second baseman Gordon Beckham’s throw to first skipped away for an error, allowing Martinez to score.

The White Sox compounded their poor pitching by making three errors on the night.

Delmon Young made it 5-0 with an RBI single in the fourth, and Cabrera’s double to left-center brought home two more runs and ended Buehrle’s night. It was his shortest outing since June 6, 2010, when he pitched three innings against the Indians.

Reliever Addison Reed, making his major league debut, allowed RBI singles by Avila and Peralta later in the fourth to make it 9-0.

Guillen said before the game he wants to be in Chicago next year. He’s signed through 2012 with the White Sox.

“All my desire, everything, is to be in Chicago,” he said. “I don’t know why people think I want to leave.”

No matter what happens, he’ll probably want to forget this game.

With the score out of hand, both teams began substituting liberally, although Guillen — trying to preserve pitchers for a Monday doubleheader at Minnesota — left right-hander Shane Lindsay out on the mound for the entire sixth inning. Lindsay, whose mother managed to travel from Australia on short notice to see her son’s major league debut Friday night, allowed seven runs and eight hits in his only inning of work Sunday.

Peralta hit a two-run double, Brandon Inge added an RBI single, pinch-hitter Andy Dirks hit a two-run single, and Cabrera made it 16-0 with a towering, 425-foot homer, his 26th of the year.

“I didn’t want to leave the kid out there — no one wants to see that — but we couldn’t do anything with a doubleheader tomorrow,” Guillen said. “That was hard for me to see and hard for everyone.”

Dirks added a two-run homer in the eighth.

“It’s almost a little surreal at times when you’re scoring that many runs,” Dirks said. “At the same time, it’s just one game. It doesn’t matter if you win by two or you win by 20.”

NOTES: Guillen said before the game OF Carlos Quentin (sprained left shoulder) may not return any time soon. … Guillen went about halfway to second base in the second inning after Alex Rios was called out stealing, apparently ready to argue the call. Then he seemed to change his mind and went back to the dugout. … Both teams face quick turnarounds for day games Monday. Detroit is at Cleveland, and Chicago plays its doubleheader at Minnesota. The White Sox will send Philip Humber (8-8) and Zach Stewart (1-2) to the mound against Minnesota’s Anthony Swarzak (3-5) and Scott Diamond (1-2).

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

CHICAGO — Justin Masterson and the Cleveland Indians picked up a key game against another AL Central contender and gained some momentum for their key series at division-leading Detroit.

Not a bad day, at all.

Masterson pitched six effective innings, Kosuke Fukudome had a tiebreaking RBI triple and the Indians inched closer to the top of the division with a 4-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night.

Matt LaPorta hit a two-run homer for Cleveland, which pulled within 1 1-2 games of idle Detroit. The Tribe opens a three-game series against the Tigers on Friday.

“It was good,” Masterson said. “It was a much needed series. We wanted to take this final game. That’s kind of been our motto to try and win each series as we go out.”

Paul Konerko homered for the White Sox, which lost starter Phil Humber on a scary play in the second inning. Konerko, Adam Dunn and Omar Vizquel each had two hits, and Tyler Flowers singled in a run.

Masterson (10-7) allowed two runs and seven hits, struck out two and walked three. The 6-foot-6 right-hander improved to 2-2 with a 1.61 ERA in four starts against the White Sox this season.

“Masterson had good stuff,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “He just battled a little bit through the six innings and got his pitch count up. But his stuff was so good that still whenever he got in trouble he could get away with it, made some pitches and gave us six solid innings. After that our bullpen again was huge.”

Rafael Perez and Joe Smith combined to finish the seventh, Vinnie Pestano got out of a jam in the eighth and Chris Perez finished for his 27th save in 30 chances.

Humber was struck in the face by Fukudome’s comebacker with one out in the second inning. He fell to the ground as the ball bounded back to catcher Flowers.

“I saw it, but a little too late though,” Humber said. “I’m not as quick as I thought.”

Humber stood up immediately after the play ended and appeared to be alert as the club’s medical staff checked on him, but was removed after a short delay. He lobbied to remain in the game.

“When you get hit like that in that spot, it was unfair to leave him in there to try to pitch,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “I think we did the right thing to get him out of there.”

Humber was struck above the right eye and was removed as a precautionary measure. He will evaluated again on Friday, when it likely will be determined if he can make his next start.

“As of right now, I feel good,” Humber said. “Just got a little pop knot on my forehead. Other than that, I feel very fortunate.”

The Indians won the last two games of the three-game series against the White Sox after losing seven of their first eight games against Chicago this season.

“They play good baseball against us,” Acta said. “They hit us around pretty good at the beginning of the year and they have played their best baseball against us.”

Fukudome played a key role in Cleveland’s decisive rally in the sixth. After Shin-Soo Choo led off with an infield single, Fukudome tripled into the right-field corner against Will Ohman (0-3) to give the Indians a 3-2 lead.

Fukudome, acquired in a July trade with the crosstown Cubs, came home later in the inning when Asdrubal Cabrera drew a two-out walk against Jason Frasor on a 3-2 pitch with the bases loaded.

“I think I’m definitely getting used to it (playing for Cleveland) and also I have at-bats when the team has a chance to score so I just try to be aggressive,” Fukudome said through an interpreter.

The White Sox loaded the bases with two out in the eighth, but Pestano struck out Gordon Beckham to end the inning. Beckham is 3 for 24 over his last six games, dropping his average to .238.

It was an ugly night for Beckham, who bounced into a fielder’s choice with a runner on to end the second, lined softly to the pitcher with two on to end the fourth and struck out looking with two on to end the sixth.

“I am worried about him because he is chasing a lot of pitches,” Guillen said. “When you’re a hitter and you’re (chasing) bad pitches, you’re going to put yourself in the hole. I know it’s not easy. I played this game before. I went through it. I was swinging at everything in my career as a player. But you have to lay off the high fastball.”

Konerko went deep in the third to give Chicago a 1-0 lead. Konerko’s 28th homer was just the sixth off Masterson in 173 innings this season.

LaPorta responded with a two-run drive on an 0-2 pitch from rookie Zach Stewart with two out in the fourth.

Flowers’ RBI single in the fourth tied it at 2. He also had three walks and has reached base 11 times in over his last four starts in place of injured catcher A.J. Pierzynski.

Dunn singled twice for his first two-hit game since July 22. Dunn is hitting .333 in 36 at-bats against the Indians this season. He’s hitting .149 against everybody else.

The Indians can regain first place with a good series this weekend. Masterson is grateful they won’t have to watch the out-of-town scoreboard.

“We can’t worry about who else is losing or whatever,” Masterson said. “If we take care of what we can, win our games as we go out, that’s going to speak for itself. We don’t have to worry about anyone else, just go out and beat our opponent.”

Notes: Indians rookie Jason Kipnis was expected to return to the lineup after missing three games with right side soreness, but was a late scratch because of tightness in his right hamstring. He was replaced at second base by Jason Donald. … Josh Tomlin will start Friday against Detroit’s Max Scherzer. Tomlin has gone at least five innings in each of his first 36 career starts, the only big league pitcher to do that since 1919. … The White Sox next play a three-game weekend series against AL West-leading Texas. Matt Harrison will face Chicago’s Jake Peavy in the opener. . Konerko’s home run was the 393rd of his career, tying Jim Edmonds for 52nd place. … OF Austin Kearns officially cleared waivers and was released outright by the Indians.

The Chicago White Sox started all but one frame by getting a man aboard against Hochevar as Chicago rallied for a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.

“He did a good job of containing it for the most part, and pitched his way through it,” Royals manager Ned Yost. “He wasn’t as sharp as he has been the last couple times, but I thought he threw the ball quite well.”

Hochevar (8-9) allowed eight hits and five runs in six-plus innings. He had won four straight decisions and hadn’t lost in eight starts dating to June 21.

“It was a grind tonight and sometimes you run into those,” he said. “You just have to keep battling and keep executing and keep attacking the strike zone.”

Paul Konerko went deep in the third and Tyler Flowers added a solo shot in the fifth to help the White Sox snap a seven-game home losing streak. Flowers also had a single and a walk.

The White Sox rallied to take the lead with a two-run seventh. Carlos Quentin drove in the tying run with an RBI double into the left-field corner. Alejandro De Aza forced in the go-ahead run with a bases loaded walk.

Both runs came with Royals reliever Aaron Crow on the mound, but were charged to Hochevar, who issued a single and a walk to start the inning before being pulled.

“Instead of trying to get ahead and throw strikes, I was trying to throw pitches on the black,” Crow said. “To be honest, my command’s not good enough to be able to do that. I just have to focus on throwing to thirds of the plate as opposed to throwing to the black.”

It was Crow’s first appearance at U.S. Cellular Field since a July 4 blowup where he allowed three runs and balked in the game-winner.

Crow said the two were isolated incidents.

“I was trying to do too much,” he said. “Guys were on base and I was trying to be too perfect instead of just throwing strikes. I was trying to make perfect pitches from the get-go and that’s what happens when you try to be too fine.”

The Royals overcame an early 2-0 deficit with a four-run rally in the fifth. Butler’s two-out, two-run single put the Royals up 4-2.

Juan Pierre had three singles and scored two runs for Chicago.

Jesse Crain (7-3) got the win in relief after pitching out of starter Jake Peavy’s jam in the seventh and his own in the eighth. Chris Sale got the last three outs, earning his fourth save.

Peavy allowed four runs and nine hits over 6 2-3 innings.

Butler stroked a two-run single for the Royals, and Johnny Giavotella added two hits and an RBI.

The start of the game was delayed by 1 hour, 25 minutes due to thunderstorms that moved through the Chicago area late Saturday afternoon. There was another delay of 42 minutes prior to the start of the eighth.

Butler got his chance when White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen had Melky Cabrera intentionally walked in front of him to load the bases.

The White Sox cut the lead to 4-3 in the fifth on Flowers’ first homer. For Flowers, who was playing in his 25th game over the last three seasons, it was also his first career RBI.

“It was huge,” said manager Ozzie Guillen. “This kid, we know he can catch, but he contributed with the bat, that’s a plus.”

With two outs and one on in the third, Konerko hit a 1-2 fastball into the left field seats, putting the White Sox up 2-0. It was Konerko’s 27th homer and extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

After the Royals fell behind 5-4, they got the first two runners on in the eighth against Crain, but Salvador Perez bounced into an inning-ending double play.

Notes: The Royals and White Sox will play the finale of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon. Francis will start for Kansas City against Chicago’s John Danks. Francis has allowed just four earned runs in 12 2-3 innings in two starts against Chicago this season but has ended up with no-decisions in both outings. Danks started the season 0-8 but is 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA in his last eight starts. The ERA is the fourth-lowest in baseball over that span. … Kansas City’s Melky Cabrera went 2 for 3. He’s hitting .400 (60 for 150) since July 2, the best average in the major leagues. … Mike Moustakas went 0 for 4 and fell to 0 for 31 against the White Sox in his first big-league season.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Paul Konerko hit a two-run homer and Tyler Flowers added his first home run in the majors to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.

Konerko went deep in the third and Flowers added a solo shot in the fifth to help the White Sox snap a seven-game home losing streak. Flowers also had a single and a walk.

Juan Pierre had three singles and scored two runs for Chicago.

Jesse Crain (7-3) got the win in relief after pitching out of starter Jake Peavy’s jam in the seventh and his own in the eighth. Chris Sale got the last three outs, earning his fourth save.

Peavy allowed four runs and nine hits over 6 2-3 innings.

Luke Hochevar (8-9) took the loss, allowing eight hits and five runs in six innings. He had won four straight decisions and hadn’t lost in eight starts dating to June 21.

Billy Butler stroked a two-run single for the Royals, and Johnny Giavotella added two hits and an RBI.

The White Sox have won seven of last their last nine, but they had lost seven straight at U.S. Cellular Field by a combined score of 54-17.

The start of the game was delayed by 1 hour, 25 minutes due to thunderstorms that moved through the Chicago area late Saturday afternoon. There was another delay of 42 minutes prior to the start of the eighth.

The White Sox took the lead with a two-run seventh. Carlos Quentin drove in the tying run with an RBI double into the left-field corner. Alejandro De Aza forced in the go-ahead run with a bases loaded walk.

Both runs came with Royals reliever Aaron Crow on the mound but both were charged to Hochevar, who issued a single and a walk to start the inning before being pulled.

Hochevar pitched out of jams effectively for most of the game, allowing the leadoff man to reach in six of seven innings.

The Royals overcame an early 2-0 deficit with a four-run rally in the fifth. Butler’s two-out, two-run single put the Royals up 4-2.

Butler got his chance when White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen had Melky Cabrera intentionally walked in front of him to load the bases.

The White Sox cut the lead to 4-3 in the fifth on Flowers’ first homer. For Flowers, who was playing in his 25th game over the last three seasons, it was also his first career RBI.

With two outs and one on in the third, Konerko hit a 1-2 fastball into the left field seats, putting the White Sox up 2-0. It was Konerko’s 27th homer and extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

After the Royals fell behind 5-4, they got the first two runners on in the eighth against Crain, but Salvador Perez bounced into an inning-ending double play.

NOTES: White Sox C A.J. Pierzynski (bruised left wrist) was out of the lineup Saturday and manager Ozzie Guillen said he doesn’t expect him to play Sunday against Royals LHP Jeff Francis. … Konerko (left knee) said he is close to being able to return to playing defense. Guillen said Wednesday is the earliest he would consider putting Konerko back at first base. Konerko hasn’t played in the field since being hit by a pitch on July 31 against Boston. … Adam Dunn (personal) was not with the team Saturday and Guillen said he won’t play until Tuesday since the lefty Francis takes the hill Sunday and the team is off Monday. … The Royals and White Sox will play the finale of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon. Francis will start for Kansas City against Chicago’s John Danks. Francis has allowed just four earned runs in 12 2-3 innings in two starts against Chicago this season but has ended up with no-decisions in both outings. Danks started the season 0-8 but is 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA in his last eight starts. The ERA is the fourth-lowest in baseball over that span. … Kansas City’s Melky Cabrera went 2 for 3. He’s hitting .400 (60 for 150) since July 2, the best average in the major leagues. … Mike Moustakas went 0 for 4 and fell to 0 for 31 against the White Sox in his first big-league season.
 

CHICAGO — Paul Konerko hit a two-run homer and Tyler Flowers added his first home run in the majors to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.Konerko went deep in the third and Flowers added a solo shot in the fifth to help the White Sox snap a seven-game home losing streak. Flowers also had a single and a walk.Juan Pierre had three singles and scored two runs for Chicago.Jesse Crain (7-3) got the win in relief after pitching out of starter Jake Peavy’s jam in the seventh and his own in the eighth. Chris Sale got the last three outs, earning his fourth save.Peavy allowed four runs and nine hits over 6 2-3 innings.Luke Hochevar (8-9) took the loss, allowing eight hits and five runs in six innings. He had won four straight decisions and hadn’t lost in eight starts dating to June 21.Billy Butler stroked a two-run single for the Royals, and Johnny Giavotella added two hits and an RBI.The White Sox have won seven of last their last nine, but they had lost seven straight at U.S. Cellular Field by a combined score of 54-17.The start of the game was delayed by 1 hour, 25 minutes due to thunderstorms that moved through the Chicago area late Saturday afternoon. There was another delay of 42 minutes prior to the start of the eighth.The White Sox took the lead with a two-run seventh. Carlos Quentin drove in the tying run with an RBI double into the left-field corner. Alejandro De Aza forced in the go-ahead run with a bases loaded walk.Both runs came with Royals reliever Aaron Crow on the mound but both were charged to Hochevar, who issued a single and a walk to start the inning before being pulled.Hochevar pitched out of jams effectively for most of the game, allowing the leadoff man to reach in six of seven innings.The Royals overcame an early 2-0 deficit with a four-run rally in the fifth. Butler’s two-out, two-run single put the Royals up 4-2.Butler got his chance when White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen had Melky Cabrera intentionally walked in front of him to load the bases.The White Sox cut the lead to 4-3 in the fifth on Flowers’ first homer. For Flowers, who was playing in his 25th game over the last three seasons, it was also his first career RBI.With two outs and one on in the third, Konerko hit a 1-2 fastball into the left field seats, putting the White Sox up 2-0. It was Konerko’s 27th homer and extended his hitting streak to 10 games.After the Royals fell behind 5-4, they got the first two runners on in the eighth against Crain, but Salvador Perez bounced into an inning-ending double play.NOTES: White Sox C A.J. Pierzynski (bruised left wrist) was out of the lineup Saturday and manager Ozzie Guillen said he doesn’t expect him to play today against Royals LHP Jeff Francis. … Konerko (left knee) said he is close to being able to return to playing defense. Guillen said Wednesday is the earliest he would consider putting Konerko back at first base. Konerko hasn’t played in the field since being hit by a pitch on July 31 against Boston. … Adam Dunn (personal) was not with the team Saturday and Guillen said he won’t play until Tuesday since the lefty Francis takes the hill Sunday and the team is off Monday. … The Royals and White Sox will play the finale of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon. Francis will start for Kansas City against Chicago’s John Danks. Francis has allowed just four earned runs in 12 2/3 innings in two starts against Chicago this season but has ended up with no-decisions in both outings. Danks started the season 0-8 but is 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA in his last eight starts. The ERA is the fourth-lowest in baseball over that span. … Kansas City’s Melky Cabrera went 2 for 3. He’s hitting .400 (60 for 150) since July 2, the best average in the major leagues. … Mike Moustakas went 0 for 4 and fell to 0 for 31 against the White Sox in his first big-league season.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Just when it seemed as if the Chicago White Sox were doomed to play out the string in a losing season, they put together their longest winning streak of the year.

Brent Morel homered and drove in two runs, Carlos Quentin also connected, and the White Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory.

Before the current run, the White Sox were 52-58. They still have a losing record, but are well within striking distance of first-place Detroit in the AL Central.

“We’ve kind of just been waiting for this all year, really,” Morel said. “We have a lot of potential. It’s kind of been a disappointing year, but knowing that we have a little time left to make a push, hopefully we can keep playing well.”

Morel, the No. 9 hitter in the lineup, played a huge part in Chicago’s season-high seventh consecutive road win. In addition to driving in half his team’s runs, the third baseman also made a diving stop of a grounder in the seventh inning with the potential tying run on third.

Gavin Floyd (10-10) gave up three runs in 6 2-3 innings for the White Sox. The Maryland native is 3-0 with a 2.28 ERA lifetime in Baltimore. Coming off a horrid performance against the Yankees in which he surrendered 10 runs in 2 1-3 innings, Floyd improved to 4-1 in his last five starts.

After Floyd left, the bullpen kept Baltimore hitless the rest of the way. Sergio Santos struck out Robert Andino for the final out to earn his 24th save and extend his road scoreless streak to 29 games.

“We knew from the beginning we have a good bullpen, and I feel we have a good starting staff and good lineup also,” Floyd said. “Hopefully we can just come together and go on a little run here.”

After Baltimore scored three runs in the fifth, Floyd ended the inning by retiring Vladimir Guerrero with a runner on second. In the seventh, after Felix Pie hit a leadoff double and advanced on a sacrifice, Morel made a diving stab of J.J. Hardy’s grounder, and former Oriole Will Ohman struck out Nick Markakis.

Making his first start with Baltimore after being obtained on waivers from Toronto, Jo-Jo Reyes (5-9) allowed four runs and five hits in four innings. Both walks he issued came around to score, and he also yielded two home runs.

Chris Jakubauskas followed with four innings of two-hit relief.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter received his second ejection of the season after umpire Phil Cuzzi called Markakis out on the front end of a double steal in the fifth inning. Markakis and third base coach Willie Randolph initially protested the call, and Showalter carried the argument to another level before being tossed by Cuzzi. Replays indicated the runner was safe.

“That was huge,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “I don’t know if he was safe or out but that was huge, when things start going your way, a lot of things happen. We had a break there and we took advantage.”

By losing the first two games of the four-game series, Baltimore will again fail to win its first series since June 24-26. The call at third place hurt, but the Orioles also made several pivotal errors, including a missed tag on a stolen base and Markakis freezing at second on a fourth-inning single by Guerrero.

“We had plenty of opportunities to capitalize, starting with myself,” Markakis said. “You make small mistakes in the game and they come back and bite you in the butt.”

Chicago jumped on top with a two-run second inning. After Quentin led off with his 24th home run, Brent Lillibridge walked with two outs and scored on a single by Morel.

Reyes walked leadoff hitter Alexei Ramirez in the third, then got two outs before A.J. Pierzynski doubled in a run. The hit came after Andino missed a tag on Ramirez during a steal of second base.

In the fourth, the White Sox again scored with two outs, this time when Morel hit a 3-1 pitch into the left-field seats. He has two home runs in 263 at-bats this season.

Held hitless through the first three innings, the Orioles got a leadoff double from Markakis in the fourth. But with runners at the corners, Floyd struck out Chris Davis and Mark Reynolds to end the inning.

Baltimore finally broke through in the fifth. Three straight singles loaded the bases, and Hardy drove in a run with fielder’s choice. Markakis followed with an RBI single, and another run scored when shortstop Ramirez fumbled Adam Jones’ grounder. Then came the ill-fated double steal attempt.

NOTES: Davis returned after missing four straight games with a sore shoulder. … Chicago RHP Philip Humber (8-8) makes his 20th start of the season Wednesday night. He’s 0-4 with a 7.97 ERA in his last four outings. Baltimore will counter with Tommy Hunter, obtained in a trade with Texas on July 30. In his starting debut with the Orioles, Hunter yielded four runs in four innings in a loss to Toronto. … Pierzynski has four hits in the series after coming to town in an 0-for-12 slump.

BALTIMORE  — Just when it seemed as if the Chicago White Sox were doomed to play out the string in a losing season, they put together their longest winning streak of the year.

Brent Morel homered and drove in two runs, Carlos Quentin also connected, and the White Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory.

Before the current run, the White Sox were 52-58. They still have a losing record, but are well within striking distance of first-place Detroit in the AL Central.

“We’ve kind of just been waiting for this all year, really,” Morel said. “We have a lot of potential. It’s kind of been a disappointing year,  but knowing that we have a little time left to make a push, hopefully we can keep playing well.”

Morel, the No. 9 hitter in the lineup, played a huge part in Chicago’s season-high seventh consecutive road win. In addition to driving in half his team’s runs, the third baseman also made a diving stop of a grounder in the seventh inning with the potential tying run on third.

Gavin Floyd (10-10) gave up three runs in 6 2-3 innings for the White Sox. The Maryland native is 3-0 with a 2.28 ERA lifetime in Baltimore. Coming off a horrid performance against the Yankees in which he surrendered 10 runs in 2 1-3 innings, Floyd improved to 4-1 in his last five starts.

After Floyd left, the bullpen kept Baltimore hitless the rest of the way. Sergio Santos struck out Robert Andino for the final out to earn his 24th save and extend his road scoreless streak to 29 games.

“We knew from the beginning we have a good bullpen, and I feel we have a good starting staff and good lineup also,” Floyd said. “Hopefully we can just come together and go on a little run here.”

After Baltimore scored three runs in the fifth, Floyd ended the inning by retiring Vladimir Guerrero with a runner on second. In the seventh, after Felix Pie hit a leadoff double and advanced on a sacrifice, Morel made a diving stab of J.J. Hardy’s grounder, and former Oriole Will Ohman struck out Nick Markakis.

Making his first start with Baltimore after being obtained on waivers from Toronto, Jo-Jo Reyes (5-9) allowed four runs and five hits in four innings. Both walks he issued came around to score, and he also yielded two home runs.

Chris Jakubauskas followed with four innings of two-hit relief.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter received his second ejection of the season after umpire Phil Cuzzi called Markakis out on the front end of a double steal in the fifth inning. Markakis and third base coach Willie Randolph initially protested the call, and Showalter carried the argument to another level before being tossed by Cuzzi.

Replays indicated the runner was safe.

“That was huge,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “I don’t know if he was safe or out but that was huge, when things start going your way, a lot of things happen. We had a break there and we took advantage.”

By losing the first two games of the four-game series, Baltimore will again fail to win its first series since June 24-26. The call at third place hurt, but the Orioles also made several pivotal errors, including a missed tag on a stolen base and Markakis freezing at second on a fourth-inning single by Guerrero.

“We had plenty of opportunities to capitalize, starting with myself,” Markakis said. “You make small mistakes in the game and they come back and bite you in the butt.”

Chicago jumped on top with a two-run second inning. After Quentin led off with his 24th home run, Brent Lillibridge walked with two outs and scored on a single by Morel.

Reyes walked leadoff hitter Alexei Ramirez in the third, then got two outs before A.J. Pierzynski doubled in a run. The hit came after Andino missed a tag on Ramirez during a steal of second base.

In the fourth, the White Sox again scored with two outs, this time when Morel hit a 3-1 pitch into the left-field seats. He has two home runs in 263 at-bats this season.

Held hitless through the first three innings, the Orioles got a leadoff double from Markakis in the fourth. But with runners at the corners, Floyd struck out Chris Davis and Mark Reynolds to end the inning.

Baltimore finally broke through in the fifth. Three straight singles loaded the bases, and Hardy drove in a run with fielder’s choice. Markakis followed with an RBI single, and another run scored when shortstop Ramirez fumbled Adam Jones’ grounder. Then came the ill-fated double steal attempt.

NOTES: Davis returned after missing four straight games with a sore shoulder. … Chicago RHP Philip Humber (8-8) makes his 20th start of the season Wednesday night. He’s 0-4 with a 7.97 ERA in his last four outings. Baltimore will counter with Tommy Hunter, obtained in a trade with Texas on July 30.  In his starting debut with the Orioles, Hunter yielded four runs in four innings in a loss to Toronto. …  Pierzynski has four hits in the series after coming to town in an 0-for-12 slump.

Before the current run, the White Sox were 52-58. They still have a losing record, but are well within striking distance of first-place Detroit in the AL Central.

“We’ve kind of just been waiting for this all year, really,” Morel said. “We have a lot of potential. It’s kind of been a disappointing year, but knowing that we have a little time left to make a push, hopefully we can keep playing well.”

Morel, the No. 9 hitter in the lineup, played a huge part in Chicago’s season-high seventh consecutive road win. In addition to driving in half his team’s runs, the third baseman also made a diving stop of a grounder in the seventh inning with the potential tying run on third.

Gavin Floyd (10-10) gave up three runs in 6 2-3 innings for the White Sox. The Maryland native is 3-0 with a 2.28 ERA lifetime in Baltimore. Coming off a horrid performance against the Yankees in which he surrendered 10 runs in 2 1-3 innings, Floyd improved to 4-1 in his last five starts.

After Floyd left, the bullpen kept Baltimore hitless the rest of the way. Sergio Santos struck out Robert Andino for the final out to earn his 24th save and extend his road scoreless streak to 29 games.

“We knew from the beginning we have a good bullpen, and I feel we have a good starting staff and good lineup also,” Floyd said. “Hopefully we can just come together and go on a little run here.”

After Baltimore scored three runs in the fifth, Floyd ended the inning by retiring Vladimir Guerrero with a runner on second. In the seventh, after Felix Pie hit a leadoff double and advanced on a sacrifice, Morel made a diving stab of J.J. Hardy’s grounder, and former Oriole Will Ohman struck out Nick Markakis.

Making his first start with Baltimore after being obtained on waivers from Toronto, Jo-Jo Reyes (5-9) allowed four runs and five hits in four innings. Both walks he issued came around to score, and he also yielded two home runs.

Chris Jakubauskas followed with four innings of two-hit relief.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter received his second ejection of the season after umpire Phil Cuzzi called Markakis out on the front end of a double steal in the fifth inning. Markakis and third base coach Willie Randolph initially protested the call, and Showalter carried the argument to another level before being tossed by Cuzzi. Replays indicated the runner was safe.

“That was huge,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “I don’t know if he was safe or out but that was huge, when things start going your way, a lot of things happen. We had a break there and we took advantage.”

By losing the first two games of the four-game series, Baltimore will again fail to win its first series since June 24-26. The call at third place hurt, but the Orioles also made several pivotal errors, including a missed tag on a stolen base and Markakis freezing at second on a fourth-inning single by Guerrero.

“We had plenty of opportunities to capitalize, starting with myself,” Markakis said. “You make small mistakes in the game and they come back and bite you in the butt.”

Chicago jumped on top with a two-run second inning. After Quentin led off with his 24th home run, Brent Lillibridge walked with two outs and scored on a single by Morel.

Reyes walked leadoff hitter Alexei Ramirez in the third, then got two outs before A.J. Pierzynski doubled in a run. The hit came after Andino missed a tag on Ramirez during a steal of second base.

In the fourth, the White Sox again scored with two outs, this time when Morel hit a 3-1 pitch into the left-field seats. He has two home runs in 263 at-bats this season.

Held hitless through the first three innings, the Orioles got a leadoff double from Markakis in the fourth. But with runners at the corners, Floyd struck out Chris Davis and Mark Reynolds to end the inning.

Baltimore finally broke through in the fifth. Three straight singles loaded the bases, and Hardy drove in a run with fielder’s choice. Markakis followed with an RBI single, and another run scored when shortstop Ramirez fumbled Adam Jones’ grounder. Then came the ill-fated double steal attempt.

NOTES: Davis returned after missing four straight games with a sore shoulder. … Chicago RHP Philip Humber (8-8) makes his 20th start of the season Wednesday night. He’s 0-4 with a 7.97 ERA in his last four outings. Baltimore will counter with Tommy Hunter, obtained in a trade with Texas on July 30. In his starting debut with the Orioles, Hunter yielded four runs in four innings in a loss to Toronto. … Pierzynski has four hits in the series after coming to town in an 0-for-12 slump.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

• Chicago’s Jake Peavy

Chicago’s Jake Peavy pitches to the Minnesota Twins on Sunday in Minneapolis.

Associated Press

• Minnesota’s Jim Thome

Minnesota’s Jim Thome watches from the dugout as the Chicago White Sox defeat the Twins 7-0 on Sunday at Target Field in Minneapolis.

Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The sure sign of a slump for the Minnesota
Twins? Struggling against the Chicago White Sox.

Jake Peavy won for the first time in more than six weeks with
eight shutout innings, and the White Sox beat the Twins, 7-0, on
Sunday to sweep a three-game series in Minnesota for the first time
in more than seven years.

Before this weekend, the Twins had won 29 of their previous 36
games against their American League Central rival — including seven
of eight this year.

The Twins had more errors (five) than runs (four) over these
three games. They drew only one walk.

“To tell you the truth, I’m seeing a team out there that looked
flat out there today,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Peavy had a
lot to do with that, and that bothers you. Whether they’re beat up
from the road trip, tired, I don’t know, but you’ve got no time to
be tired. We’re going deeper and deeper in a hole, again. We’ve
been there once, and we’re going right back to it.”

After starting the season 17-37, the Twins surged back to life
in June — and contention in this underwhelming division — by
winning 25 of their next 36 games. Since then, however, they’re
9-14. They’re 10 games behind the Detroit Tigers, still stuck in
fourth place.

“We’ve got guys that are winners. I think it’s more frustrating
than anything,” said designated hitter Jim Thome. “For years, the
Twins, this time of year, have always put themselves in position to
make big runs, and it just hasn’t worked the way any of us would
have liked.”

Brent Lillibridge, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez and Alex Rios
each hit home runs for the White Sox, who went deep only 18 times
in July — their fewest that month since 1992. They pulled within 5½
games of the Tigers.

Peavy (5-5) last picked up a victory by pitching four shutout
innings in his first career relief appearance, June 25 against the
Washington Nationals, three days after he beat the crosstown rival
Cubs with a so-so start. The 2007 National League Cy Young Award
winner hasn’t been the same since coming to Chicago in a trade with
the Padres, but the 30-year-old right-hander was in such a rhythm
it looked like his old San Diego form.

“Once he got the lead, he just said, ‘I’m getting ahead of every
hitter,’” said Minnesota’s Michael Cuddyer, marveling at the way
Peavy used and spotted his cut fastball. Cuddyer added: “They stuck
it to us, all three games.”

The power surge from Peavy’s teammates sure helped. The White
Sox were averaging barely more than four runs per game when he’s
pitched, but little Lillibridge went deep for the second straight
day in the second inning and Konerko followed suit in the fourth —
both shots to the same section in the second deck above left field
off Brian Duensing (8-10).

“You have to tip your hat to them. They hit the ball well,” said
Duensing, lamenting that he left many of his sinkers up in the
strike zone.

Duensing lasted 6 1-3 innings, but he gave up nine hits — Rios
had an RBI double to cap a stretch of three straight extra-base
hits that started the fourth — and five runs while walking one and
striking out four.

One of those runs was unearned, due to a throwing error by
Duensing in that rough fourth inning. He stopped a soft comebacker
by Gordon Beckham, but sent his throw well wide of first base,
blowing an easy out and prompting Gardenhire to rub his balding
head before letting out a big sigh in the dugout. That’s the kind
of mistake the Twins have been making lately.

“We’re still trying to do the best we can. It’s just not going
our way right now,” said right fielder Jason Kubel.

Given their experience, their accomplishments and their payroll,
this team sure seems capable of more.

“That’s the thing I’ve got to find out,” Gardenhire said. “Are
we? Will we? You have to do it. We can talk about it all we want.
You can throw the names out there all you want, but it has to get
done on the field. And we did nothing. So as a manager, yes, I’m
sitting here wondering what the hell is going on.”

Notes: The Twins are 12 games under .500, the most since June
28. … The Twins host the Red Sox Monday, sending Scott Baker
(8-6) to face Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (6-4). “They
always say knuckleballers can screw your swing up,” Gardenhire
said. “Well, maybe he’ll un-screw our swings up.” … This will be
the first trip to Target Field by the Red Sox since opening the
ballpark April 12-15, 2010. … Baker has pitched six innings or
more in 14 of his 20 starts.

The Chicago White Sox haven’t conceded the division race, during yet another mercurial season for temperamental manager Ozzie Guillen’s team.

Jake Peavy sure pitched like he isn’t giving up. 

Peavy won for the first time in more than six weeks with eight shutout innings, and the White Sox beat the Twins 7-0 Sunday to sweep a three-game series in Minnesota for the first time in more than seven years. 

“We’re going to grind things out,” Peavy said. “That’s a testament to these guys who have not mailed it in. After that last stretch, we could’ve come in here, our heads hung low, and mailed it in on a team that has had our number.”

Brent Lillibridge, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez and Alex Rios each hit home runs for the White Sox, who had lost 29 of 36 games to their nemesis until winning three straight at Target Field this weekend. The backsliding Twins have lost seven of their last eight games overall. 

That’s what the White Sox looked like at the beginning of the weekend, after losing six in a row after finally pulling back to the .500 mark.
Those defeats did come against the top two teams in the American League, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, though, and with 50 games left in the underwhelming AL Central the White Sox aren’t at all out of it. They’re still in third place, but they climbed to 51/2 games behind the Detroit Tigers. 

“It’s all about confidence,” Guillen said. “They’ve got their confidence back, and they know they can win.”

Peavy (5-5) last picked up a victory by pitching four shutout innings in his first career relief appearance, June 25 against the Washington Nationals, three days after he beat the crosstown rival Cubs with a so-so start. The 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner hasn’t been the same since coming to Chicago in a trade with the Padres, but the 30-year-old right-hander was in a rhythm that recalled his old San Diego form. 
“Once he got the lead, he just said, ‘I’m getting ahead of every hitter,’” said Minnesota’s Michael Cuddyer, marveling at the way Peavy used and spotted his cut fastball. Cuddyer added: “They stuck it to us, all three games.”
The power surge from Peavy’s teammates sure helped. The White Sox were averaging barely more than four runs per game when he’s pitched, but little Lillibridge went deep for the second straight day in the second inning and Konerko followed suit in the fourth — both shots to the same section in the second deck above left field off Brian Duensing (8-10). 

The White Sox hit only 18 home runs in July, their fewest in that month since 1992. 

“You have to tip your hat to them. They hit the ball well,” said Duensing, lamenting that he left many of his sinkers up in the strike zone. 
Peavy, whose start was pushed back by one day, will probably have to play a big part for the White Sox to catch the Tigers. He gave up only three hits, all in the first three innings, and Joe Mauer’s double was the only way the Twins got a runner to second base.

Peavy struck out six without a walk, hitting one batter. 

“We’re just aggressive. I can’t stand putting people on base,” Peavy said. “My stuff was OK, but it makes all the difference in the world when you get a two or three-run lead early.”

Duensing lasted 6 1-3 innings, but he gave up nine hits — Rios had an RBI double to cap a stretch of three straight extra-base hits that started the fourth — and five runs while walking one and striking out four. 

One of those runs was unearned, due to a throwing error by Duensing in that rough fourth inning. He stopped a soft comebacker by Gordon Beckham but sent his throw well wide of first base, blowing an easy out and prompting manager Ron Gardenhire to rub his balding head before letting out a big sigh in the dugout. That’s the kind of mistake the Twins have been making lately, and being swept by the White Sox is a sure sign they’re struggling. They were 7-1 against their primary division rival this year until this weekend. 

“

Konerko is batting .305 with 25 homers and 76 RBIs for the White Sox, who are in third place in the AL Central.

The All-Star slugger was hit on his calf by a pitch from Andrew Miller during the fourth inning of Chicago’s 5-3 loss to Boston on Sunday. He eventually went to first base but left after the inning.

Adam Dunn started at first again on Wednesday night.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.