Konerko joined the White Sox in 1999, after Ventura finished a 10-year run as Chicago’s third baseman in 1998. Though they just missed being teammates, Konerko said he’s gotten to know Ventura a bit over the years at team functions.

And he’s convinced that Ventura’s lack of managerial experience won’t be a hindrance once he gets rolling.

“As far as how a clubhouse runs and all that kinds of stuff, I don’t think there is any concern,” konerko said. “Robin Ventura has been in a clubhouse most of his whole life. I think most of the older players are looking forward to it as far as conversing with him and picking his brain at what he thinks makes a good team.”

And, if Ventura needs help during the game, he’ll be able to delegate, especially with veteran pitching coach Don Cooper returning with a multiyear extension, as well as first base coach Harold Baines.

Ventura’s style, once it develops, will almost certainly be different than that of Guillen, the outspoken — often outrageous — skipper who led the team to its first World Series in 88 years in 2005.

Guillen, who had his request for an extension denied, was released from the final year on his contract after eight seasons and will be running the Marlins next season. Guillen also had no managerial experience when he was hired after serving as Florida’s third base coach during its World Series championship run in 2003.

Ventura has not been a major league coach, although he was hired in June to be an advisor to player development director Buddy Bell.

Ventura was a popular player with the White Sox before completing his career with the Mets, Yankees and Dodgers. He’s returning to the organization that drafted him in the first round in 1988.

Konerko characterized the 44-year-old Ventura as an easy person to talk to but added that, from stories he’s heard over the years, the new White Sox manager is not afraid to stand up or confront someone. After all, he did charge the mound against Nolan Ryan in 1993.

And he doesn’t expect Ventura to be shy about expressing what he feels — even if it’s not as in the same outlandish manner as Guillen.

“Just in talking to people who played with him and all that, I think he’ll be the kind of guy, like Ozzie, who will call you out on a carpet in front of people and be a little bit more abrasive than everybody thinks,” Konerko said.

It’s still not clear whether the White Sox with change its approach with Ventura as manager and try to slice payroll and use more young players after last year’s 79-83 disappointment.

The 35-year-old Konerko, who batted .300 last season with 31 homers and 105 RBIs, has two more seasons left on a three-year, $37.5 million deal. He said he understands if the team decided to go in that direction, adding that Ventura could perhaps help some of the younger players develop.

He also expects Ventura, who was a little apprehensive when first approached about the job by general manager Ken Williams, to have a plan mapped out by spring training.

“Robin is close to the organization. He’s been closer the last few months and been involved a little bit more doing some stuff,” Konerko said. “I think he knows what he’s getting himself into and I think he knows what is going on. … He’s not coming into this blind.”

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

By Greg Beacham, Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. — When Paul Konerko drove in the tying run with his 2,000th career hit in the eighth inning, the Chicago White Sox were tantalizingly close to climbing above .500 and moving into second place in the AL Central for the first time all summer.

Instead, Konerko’s hit was the only thing worth celebrating for the White Sox at Angel Stadium.

Peter Bourjos drove a bases-loaded single through Chicago’s drawn-in infield in the ninth inning, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the White Sox 5-4 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory.

The White Sox lost for just the sixth time in 17 games, but they committed two errors while giving up a first-inning run, and they never regained the lead. Mark Buehrle yielded seven hits and four runs over six innings, and none of the White Sox managed more than two hits.

It wasn’t what the White Sox hoped to see at the start of a key five-game West Coast road trip.

“We’ve got head-to-heads left with some teams in our division, so we’ve just got to hang in there and try to pick up some ground where we can,” Konerko said. “”We might have to sweep somebody here and there to make this thing happen.”

Chicago trailed 4-3 into the eighth, but Alejandro De Aza got a two-out single and stole second. Konerko singled on Ervin Santana’s first two-strike pitch after a mound conference, and Santana headed back to the dugout moments later with his head hung low.

“I’m glad it was a meaningful hit in the game,” Konerko said. “It was a hitter’s hit — a line drive to right, just like my first hit.”

Konerko is the 13th player to get his 2,000th hit with the White Sox. Chicago’s All-Star slugger joined a group including Jim Thome, Frank Thomas, Tim Raines and Carlton Fisk.

“The first thing I think of is, ‘How the hell did Pete Rose get 4,000 hits?’” Konerko said. “Or (Derek) Jeter getting 3,000 hits, or any of those guys. I mean, you do this from the time you’re a kid until you’re at the stage where you’ve got a wife and kids, and for someone else to have another 1,000 hits or another 2,000 hits, it just seems like, wow, those guys are good.”

After Erick Aybar’s one-out single off Jason Frasor (3-3), pinch-hitter Alberto Callaspo moved him to third with a single — and he alertly advanced to second on the throw, forcing the White Sox to walk Maicer Izturis to load the bases before Bourjos’ hit easily scored Aybar.

Buehrle hasn’t won at Angel Stadium since August 2001, but Konerko’s eighth-inning hit took him off the hook for his first consecutive losses since April.

Peter Bourjos drove a bases-loaded single through Chicago’s drawn-in infield in the ninth inning, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the White Sox 5-4 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory.

The White Sox lost for just the sixth time in 17 games, but they committed two errors while giving up a first-inning run, and they never regained the lead. Mark Buehrle yielded seven hits and four runs over six innings, and none of the White Sox managed more than two hits.

It wasn’t what the White Sox hoped to see at the start of a key five-game West Coast road trip.

“We’ve got head-to-heads left with some teams in our division, so we’ve just got to hang in there and try to pick up some ground where we can,” Konerko said. “’’We might have to sweep somebody here and there to make this thing happen.”

Chicago trailed 4-3 into the eighth, but Alejandro De Aza got a two-out single and stole second. Konerko singled on Ervin Santana’s first two-strike pitch after a mound conference, and Santana headed back to the dugout moments later with his head hung low.

“I’m glad it was a meaningful hit in the game,” Konerko said. “It was a hitter’s hit — a line drive to right, just like my first hit.”

Konerko is the 13th player to get his 2,000th hit with the White Sox. Chicago’s All-Star slugger joined a group including Jim Thome, Frank Thomas, Tim Raines and Carlton Fisk.

“The first thing I think of is, ‘How the hell did Pete Rose get 4,000 hits?’” Konerko said. “Or (Derek) Jeter getting 3,000 hits, or any of those guys. I mean, you do this from the time you’re a kid until you’re at the stage where you’ve got a wife and kids, and for someone else to have another 1,000 hits or another 2,000 hits, it just seems like, wow, those guys are good.”

After Erick Aybar’s one-out single off Jason Frasor (3-3), pinch-hitter Alberto Callaspo moved him to third with a single — and he alertly advanced to second on the throw, forcing the White Sox to walk Maicer Izturis to load the bases before Bourjos’ hit easily scored Aybar.

Buehrle hasn’t won at Angel Stadium since August 2001, but Konerko’s eighth-inning hit took him off the hook for his first consecutive losses since April.

“This is probably one of the worst nights I’ve had,” Buehrle said. “I didn’t make too many good pitches. I don’t think I was throwing anything close to really make them work or think about swinging. I was falling behind in the count with stuff that wasn’t even close, throwing balls in the dirt. It’s frustrating because, obviously, we need to win.”

Howie Kendrick homered and tripled as the suddenly surging Angels matched their longest win streak of the season, trimming their AL West deficit to 3½ games behind Texas. With the Rangers’ 11-5 loss to Boston, the Angels crept closer to the division leader just five days after losing three of four in a head-to-head matchup that left them six games out.

“We know how many games we’re back, but we don’t talk about it,” Kendrick said. “We’ve still got a month left, plus seven or eight days. Even though we went down seven games, we never thought we were out of it.”

Jordan Walden (4-3) pitched the ninth inning after the Angels got another strong start from Santana, who gave up nine hits and four runs, pitching into the eighth inning in his seventh straight start.

Los Angeles scored single runs in each of the first four innings, including Kendrick’s career-high 11th homer in the second and Torii Hunter’s RBI single in the third.

Kendrick put a triple in the gap and scored on Aybar’s fly to shallow center in the fourth, sliding around Tyler Flowers’ tag and nearly taking out home plate umpire Tony Randazzo. Kendrick was thrown out at the plate in the sixth inning, however.

NOTES: Earlier Tuesday, the Angels announced a new five-year, $85 million contract for ace Jered Weaver, who will pitch against the White Sox on Wednesday when Los Angeles’ nine-game homestand concludes. Weaver is 14-6 with a 2.10 ERA this season, starting the All-Star game for the AL last month. … Zach Stewart will oppose Weaver in Wednesday’s series finale. … White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen on Weaver’s contract: “I think he showed me a lot of class. I wish I was his agent.”

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

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)—When Peter Bourjos’(notes) line drive flew through a hole in
Chicago’s drawn-in infield and skipped on the grass in left field, the Angels
followed their now-familiar drill, charging out of the dugout for another
celebration.

Ever since Los Angeles’ playoff hopes dimmed sharply a week ago, they have
improbably been growing brighter with one spectacular win after another.

Bourjos connected for a bases-loaded single in the ninth inning, and the
Angels beat the Chicago White Sox 5-4 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight
victory, including three in their last at-bat.

“Oh, we never think we’re out of it,” said Torii Hunter(notes), who had two hits.
“There’s a lot of faith in this clubhouse.”

Howie Kendrick(notes) homered and tripled as the suddenly surging Angels matched
their longest win streak of the season, trimming their AL West deficit to 3 1/2
games behind Texas. With the Rangers’ 11-5 loss to Boston, the Angels crept
closer to the division leader just five days after losing three of four in a
head-to-head matchup that left them six games out.

“We know how many games we’re back, but we don’t talk about it,” Kendrick
said. “We’ve still got a month left, plus seven or eight days. Even though we
went down seven games, we never thought we were out of it.”

Chicago, which helped the Angels’ cause last weekend by taking two of three
from Texas, lost for just the sixth time in 17 games. The White Sox erased Los
Angeles’ eighth-inning lead when Paul Konerko(notes) drove in the tying run with a
single that was his 2,000th hit.

“I’m glad it was a meaningful hit in the game,” Konerko said. “It was a
hitter’s hit—a line drive to right, just like my first hit.”

But after Erick Aybar’s(notes) one-out single off Jason Frasor(notes) (3-3), pinch-hitter
Alberto Callaspo(notes) moved him to third with a single—and he alertly advanced to
second on the throw, forcing the White Sox to walk Maicer Izturis(notes) to load the
bases before Bourjos’ hit easily scored Aybar.

“We saw Texas had lost, so that’s a big win,” said Bourjos, who extended
his hitting streak to nine games with his winner. “We’re just trying to climb
back into it.”

Jordan Walden(notes) (4-3) pitched the ninth inning after the Angels got another
strong start from Ervin Santana(notes), who gave up nine hits and four runs, pitching
into the eighth inning in his seventh straight start.

Mark Buehrle(notes) yielded seven hits and four runs over six innings for the White
Sox. Buehrle hasn’t won at Angel Stadium since August 2001, but Konerko’s
eighth-inning hit took him off the hook for his first consecutive losses since
April.

“This is probably one of the worst nights I’ve had,” Buehrle said. “I
didn’t make too many good pitches. I don’t think I was throwing anything close
to really make them work or think about swinging. I was falling behind in the
count with stuff that wasn’t even close, throwing balls in the dirt. It’s
frustrating because, obviously, we need to win.”

Los Angeles scored single runs in each of the first four innings, including
Kendrick’s career-high 11th homer in the second and Torii Hunter’s RBI single in
the third.

Kendrick put a triple in the gap and scored on Aybar’s fly to shallow center
in the fourth, sliding around Tyler Flowers’(notes) tag and nearly taking out home
plate umpire Tony Randazzo. Kendrick was thrown out at the plate in the sixth
inning, however.

Santana nursed a 4-3 lead into the eighth, getting two quick outs before
Alejandro De Aza(notes) singled and stole second. Konerko singled on Santana’s first
two-strike pitch after a mound conference, and Santana headed back to the dugout
moments later with his head hung low.

“Even the last one to Konerko was a good pitch,” Santana said.

Konerko is the 13th player to get his 2,000th hit with the White Sox.
Chicago’s All-Star slugger joined a group including Jim Thome(notes), Frank Thomas, Tim
Raines and Carlton Fisk.

“The first thing I think of is, `How the hell did Pete Rose get 4,000
hits?”’ Konerko said. “Or (Derek) Jeter getting 3,000 hits, or any of those
guys. I mean, you do this from the time you’re a kid until you’re at the stage
where you’ve got a wife and kids, and for someone else to have another 1,000
hits or another 2,000 hits, it just seems like, wow, those guys are good.”

NOTES: Earlier Tuesday, the Angels announced a new five-year, $85 million
contract for ace Jered Weaver(notes), who will pitch against the White Sox on Wednesday
when Los Angeles’ nine-game homestand concludes. Weaver is 14-6 with a 2.10 ERA
this season, starting the All-Star game for the AL last month. … Zach Stewart(notes)
will oppose Weaver in Wednesday’s series finale. … White Sox manager Ozzie
Guillen on Weaver’s contract: “I think he showed me a lot of class. I wish I
was his agent.”

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 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.

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.