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.

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.
 

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.

CHICAGO — Even with Paul Konerko back in the lineup, the Chicago White Sox fell flat.

The punchless White Sox struggled against Ivan Nova in Konerko’s return as the New York Yankees beat the White Sox 7-2 on Thursday night, completing a four-game sweep and prolonging Chicago’s six-game slide.

“We just got killed for four games,” Konerko said. “The first game was a good game. Going back to the Boston series, the last two were tough, too.”

Konerko had two hits in four at-bats serving as designated hitter. He had missed three straight games after being hit in the leg by a pitch on Sunday against the Red Sox.

“Hitting-wise I felt not bad. I felt maybe 80 or 90 percent. Definitely, for the most part, could do what I wanted to do,” the White Sox captain said. “Running killed. I would have thought it would be the other way around. I’m glad it is what it is instead of hurting as much if it was the reverse of that. Running laterally was really painful. Just keep working to get that out, that’s all you can do.”

Konerko said he still isn’t ready to play in the field.

Ivan Nova struck out a career-high 10 to pace the Yankees, who won their seventh straight game.

“He didn’t give us much to hit,” said Adam Dunn, who homered off reliever Hector Noesi with two outs in the ninth. “He wasn’t leaving (his fastball) in the middle of the plate and he had a really good curveball and a really good slider tonight.”

With the Detroit Tigers losing, the White Sox remain 6 1/2 games off the pace in the AL Central. The White Sox head to Minnesota to face a team that has beaten them seven out of eight meetings this year.

Phil Humber (8-8) lost his fourth straight start. He went 6 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and four runs.

Entering the game, the players currently on the Yankees’ roster came into the game a combined 0 for 18 lifetime against Humber. He retired the first four batters on Thursday before Cano came up in the second.

With one out, Cano lined the first pitch he saw into the bullpen in left for the first run of the game. It was Cano’s 18th homer of the season and second in as many games after he had gone 14 games without one.

“That was a good pitch, that guy’s out of this world, especially right now,” Humber said. “He’s so locked in, so balanced, the swings he took this series — pretty impressive.

“That pitch right there was on the corner, maybe an inch or two above the knees and just to flick it out of the park like that is pretty impressive. Their whole lineup right now is hot, it’s definitely a tough one to go through.”

The Yankees moved into a tie with Boston for the AL East lead. The teams begin a three-game series at Fenway Park on Friday night.

Russell Martin hit a three-run homer in the ninth to break open the game. He drove in four runs.

Nova (10-4) pitched 7 2/3 innings and won his sixth consecutive decision. He held Chicago to one run and six hits and didn’t walk a batter.

“That might be as good as we’ve seen him all year,” Yankees manager Joe Giradi said. “He was excellent tonight. His slider, again, made a huge difference for him.”

The White Sox have lost six straight games after getting to the .500 mark and drawing within three games of the division lead last Friday.

Chicago absorbed its first four-game sweep at home since losing four straight to Boston from Aug 23-26, 2007. The last time the White Sox were swept at home in a four-game set against New York was June 17-20, 1976.

Notes: White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said Konerko would be limited to designated hitter duty for a few days. … RHP Bartolo Colon will start for the Yankees in the series opener against LHP Jon Lester. New York is 454-458 all-time at Fenway. However, the Yankees are 1-8 vs. Boston this season and have lost seven straight at Fenway. Colon lost both his starts against the Red Sox this season. … LHP Mark Buehrle gets the call for the White Sox in their opener at Minnesota in a key series for two teams scrambling to stay in the AL Central race. The Twins have won 29 of their last 36 against Chicago. … Buehrle has posted a 2.03 ERA over his last eight starts but is just 2-1 over that stretch. He has allowed three runs or less in 16 straight starts. … White Sox speedster Juan Pierre was thrown out stealing in the sixth. He’s just 16 for 29 on the basepaths this season.

CHICAGO (AP) — Even with Paul Konerko back in the lineup, the Chicago White Sox fell flat.

The punchless White Sox struggled against Ivan Nova in Konerko’s return as the New York Yankees beat the White Sox 7-2 on Thursday night, completing a four-game sweep and prolonging Chicago’s six-game slide.

“We just got killed for four games,” Konerko said. “The first game was a good game. Going back to the Boston series, the last two were tough, too.”

Konerko had two hits in four at-bats serving as designated hitter. He had missed three straight games after being hit in the leg by a pitch on Sunday against the Red Sox.

“Hitting-wise I felt not bad. I felt maybe 80 or 90 percent. Definitely, for the most part, could do what I wanted to do,” the White Sox captain said. “Running killed. I would have thought it would be the other way around. I’m glad it is what it is instead of hurting as much if it was the reverse of that. Running laterally was really painful. Just keep working to get that out, that’s all you can do.”

Konerko said he still isn’t ready to play in the field.

Ivan Nova struck out a career-high 10 to pace the Yankees, who won their seventh straight game.

“He didn’t give us much to hit,” said Adam Dunn, who homered off reliever Hector Noesi with two outs in the ninth. “He wasn’t leaving (his fastball) in the middle of the plate and he had a really good curveball and a really good slider tonight.”

With the Detroit Tigers losing, the White Sox remain 6½ games off the pace in the AL Central. The White Sox head to Minnesota to face a team that has beaten them seven out of eight meetings this year.

Phil Humber (8-8) lost his fourth straight start. He went 6 1-3 innings, allowing five hits and four runs.

Entering the game, the players currently on the Yankees’ roster came into the game a combined 0 for 18 lifetime against Humber. He retired the first four batters on Thursday before Cano came up in the second.

With one out, Cano lined the first pitch he saw into the bullpen in left for the first run of the game. It was Cano’s 18th homer of the season and second in as many games after he had gone 14 games without one.

“That was a good pitch, that guy’s out of this world, especially right now,” Humber said. “He’s so locked in, so balanced, the swings he took this series — pretty impressive.

“That pitch right there was on the corner, maybe an inch or two above the knees and just to flick it out of the park like that is pretty impressive. Their whole lineup right now is hot, it’s definitely a tough one to go through.”

The Yankees moved into a tie with Boston for the AL East lead. The teams begin a three-game series at Fenway Park on Friday night.

Russell Martin hit a three-run homer in the ninth to break open the game. He drove in four runs.

Nova (10-4) pitched 7 2-3 innings and won his sixth consecutive decision. He held Chicago to one run and six hits and didn’t walk a batter.

“That might be as good as we’ve seen him all year,” Yankees manager Joe Giradi said. “He was excellent tonight. His slider, again, made a huge difference for him.”

The White Sox have lost six straight games after getting to the .500 mark and drawing within three games of the division lead last Friday.

Chicago absorbed its first four-game sweep at home since losing four straight to Boston from Aug 23-26, 2007. The last time the White Sox were swept at home in a four-game set against New York was June 17-20, 1976.

Notes: White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said Konerko would be limited to designated hitter duty for a few days. … RHP Bartolo Colon will start for the Yankees in the series opener against LHP Jon Lester. New York is 454-458 all-time at Fenway. However, the Yankees are 1-8 vs. Boston this season and have lost seven straight at Fenway. Colon lost both his starts against the Red Sox this season. … LHP Mark Buehrle gets the call for the White Sox in their opener at Minnesota in a key series for two teams scrambling to stay in the AL Central race. The Twins have won 29 of their last 36 against Chicago. … Buehrle has posted a 2.03 ERA over his last eight starts but is just 2-1 over that stretch. He has allowed three runs or less in 16 straight starts. … White Sox speedster Juan Pierre was thrown out stealing in the sixth. He’s just 16 for 29 on the basepaths this season.

Ozzie Guillen knew Paul Konerko was in pain just from the look on his best player’s face.

When Konerko got plunked in the calf by a pitch from Andrew Miller in the fourth inning of Sunday’s game against the Red Sox, everything seemed to crumble for the White Sox.  

They couldn’t score after loading the bases, they ended up leaving 12 runners on base, they lost Konerko for the final five innings — and maybe for Monday night’s opener of a four-game series against the Yankees — and they lost the game to Boston 5-3.  

Konerko actually stayed in the game and took his base, but had to leave after the inning ended with the bases loaded. The White Sox had taken a 3-2 lead in the inning on Alexei Ramirez’s RBI single but didn’t score again.  

“I don’t expect him to be in the lineup to be honest with you. When PK took himself out of the game, it’s not a concern but I know that guy was hurt,” Guillen said.

“When I went to the plate, I’ve managed him for a little while, I knew this guy can tolerate some pain and tough it out. When I got back to the dugout, I told JP (Juan Pierre) to get loose because I don’t think he’s going to make it.”

Pierre did come in and play left and Brent Lillibridge switched from left to first where he made his first major league appearance at the position.  

“We’ve got two lineups tomorrow just in case he can’t play,” Guillen said of Konerko, batting .305 with 25 homers and 76 RBIs. The White Sox, who trail Detroit by four games in the AL Central, are facing Yankees ace CC Sabathia.  

Earlier in the week, the White Sox dealt away starter Edwin Jackson and backup infielder Mark Teahen but did not make another deal at the deadline. Now they’re 52-54 and must somehow get it together with two months left.  

“I would never have guessed we would have been in this spot that we’re in right now,” said starter Mark Buehrle who allowed five hits and two runs in six innings and left with a 3-2 lead.  

“I can’t see the future. I thought going into spring training we had a good team and a good chance, but obviously we’re not in a good spot right now.”

After getting 10 hits and three runs off Miller in his 5 2-3 innings, the White Sox were shut out by Boston’s bullpen that used three relievers, Alfredo Aceves, Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon.  

“When you don’t score runs in the American League, it’s going to be hard to win games,” Guillen said. “The pitchers can take you so far.”

Ramirez’s RBI single, Chicago’s third hit of the inning, gave the White Sox a 3-2 lead in the fourth. Miller then hit Konerko in the left calf with a pitch to load the bases. Konerko stayed down for a couple of seconds and then was able to walk it off and stay in the game. And the White Sox couldn’t keep their rally going.

“You get to the point when you might snap. We’ve got two months, a month and half, hopefully our offense will pick it up from now on and make it easier for the pitching staff,” Guillen said. “And for me.”

Jason Varitek hit a two-out, two-run homer in the second inning to give Miller a quick lead.

But Chicago got one back in the second on Brent Morel’s two-out RBI double over center fielder Ellsbury’s head and another in the third when Carlos Quentin, Adam Dunn and Alex Rios hit two-out consecutive singles.

NOTES: The White Sox honored former slugger Frank Thomas by unveiling a statue of the two-time MVP on the outfield concourse. … Bard has not allowed a run in his past 26 1-3 innings. … The White Sox inserted DH Dunn into the lineup at first in the ninth.

Scott Sizemore hit a go-ahead three-run double in the ninth inning to rally the Oakland Athletics past the Chicago White Sox 7-5 Friday night, ending a 10-game losing streak.

The A’s won their first game under Bob Melvin. Oakland made the majors’ first managerial change of 2011 by firing Bob Geren after four-plus seasons Thursday and replacing him with Melvin.

Trailing 5-3 in the ninth, White Sox closer Sergio Santos (2-3) retired the first two batters and had Josh Willingham in an 0-2 count before walking him. Hideki Matsui followed with an RBI single to cut the White Sox lead to a run. Santos then walked Daric Barton and hit Kurt Suzuki with a breaking ball to load the bases. Sizemore then split the left-center gap to give the Athletics a 7-5 lead.

Santos allowed three runs in Wednesday’s loss to the Mariners.

Grant Balfour (4-1) pitched a scoreless eighth for the victory and Andrew Bailey pitched a perfect ninth for his first save of the season.

Paul Konerko hit a two-run homer and A.J. Pierzynski had three hits for the White Sox, who failed to gain ground in the AL Central despite Cleveland and Detroit both losing.

The A’s had had 13 hits in avoiding losing 11 straight for the first time since a 12-game slide April 19-30, 1994. Oakland came into the game batting .219 (75 for 343) during the 10-game losing streak.

Cliff Pennington and Sizemore led the A’s with three hits.

White Sox starter Edwin Jackson pitched six innings and allowed two runs on eight hits.

Graham Godfrey made his major league debut with Brett Anderson sidelined by elbow soreness. Godfrey allowed five runs on nine hits over 4 1-3 innings.

Godfrey was 7-1 with a 2.50 ERA for Sacramento. The 26-year old right-hander started one game for Double-A Midland before being promoted to Sacramento.

Trailing 1-0 in the first inning, Carlos Quentin drew a two-out walk, then Konerko followed with his 16th home run and second in as many days to put Chicago ahead. It was Konerko’s ninth straight game with an extra-base hit, setting a franchise record.

The White Sox left the bases loaded after Godfrey struck out Gordon Beckham.

Konerko is 20-42 with six doubles, six home runs and 14 RBIs during his 11-game hitting streak, raising his average from .287 to .321. He has hit six home runs in his last nine games.

Jemile Weeks led off the third with a triple. Center fielder Alex Rios had a bad read on the ball and initially turned in the wrong direction as the ball went over his head. Weeks later scored on Pennington’s infield single to tie the score at two.

The White Sox got the lead back for Jackson in the fifth. Alexei Ramirez led off with a double, then Quentin followed a slow bouncer to third baseman Scott Sizemore. Sizemore made an off balanced throw to first which got away from Barton at first. Ramirez ended up scoring on the throwing error. Godfrey was chased after giving up a single to Pierzynski. Quentin hustled into third on the hit to right and Pierzynski took second on the throw. Quentin ended up scoring on Rios’ groundout and Adam Dunn drove in Pierzynski on a single to give the White Sox a 5-2 lead.

With one out in the first, Pennington doubled down the left-field line. One out later, Pennington scored on Willingham’s single.

Coco Crisp scored on pinch-hitter Conor Jackson’s groundout in the seventh.

NOTES: Konerko previously shared the consecutive extra base hit streak with Al Simmons, who set it in 1935. … Rios and Dunn drove in a run in the same game this season for the third time this season. … Quentin extended his hitting streak to 12 games.

CHICAGO  — After retiring the first two batters in the ninth inning and having Josh Willingham in an 0-2 count, it appeared Chicago White Sox closer Sergio Santos was going to send the Oakland Athletics to their 11th straight defeat.

All off a sudden, Santos lost control of his slider and the Athletics finally took advantage.

Scott Sizemore hit a go-ahead three-run double in the ninth inning to rally Oakland past the Chicago White Sox 7-5 on Friday night, ending a 10-game losing streak.

Pitching with a 5-3 lead, Santos (2-3) set himself up with the two outs and two strikes before walking Willingham. Hideki Matsui followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to a run. Santos then walked Daric Barton and hit Kurt Suzuki with a breaking ball to load the bases. Sizemore then split the left-center gap to give the Athletics a 7-5 lead.

“My slider, I just didn’t have a feel for it. It did, but I just couldn’t repeat it consistently. That ended up kind of messing me up because that is usually my put away pitch. I couldn’t do it to Willingham, I tried it three times and nothing,” Santos said. “There is no excuse. I flat out didn’t get the job done. I don’t know what to say.”

In a non-save situation, Santos allowed three runs in Wednesday’s loss to Seattle. On Friday, Santos was charged with his second blown save of the season.

“To me, he was too aggressive. In that particular time you take a deep breath and take one pitch at a time. He tried to getting the ball and letting it fly,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.

Grant Balfour (4-1) pitched a scoreless eighth for the victory and Andrew Bailey pitched a perfect ninth for his first save of the season.

“It was a great feeling to help the team get a win. Just felt really good to contribute,” Sizemore said. “It just goes to show everyone is here to grind it out every out and put pressure on the other team. Everyone helped out.”

Paul Konerko hit a two-run homer and A.J. Pierzynski had three hits for the White Sox, who failed to gain ground in the AL Central despite Cleveland and Detroit both losing.

“This one hurt, I will be honest with you. I’m not going to lie,” Guillen said. “My question is, how do we bounce back tomorrow?”

The A’s had had 13 hits in avoiding losing 11 straight for the first time since a 12-game slide April 19-30, 1994. Oakland came into the game batting .219 (75 for 343) during the 10-game losing streak.

The A’s won their first game under Bob Melvin. Oakland made the majors’ first managerial change of 2011 by firing Bob Geren after four-plus seasons Thursday and replacing him with Melvin.

“You could feel all game long that we were fighting and if we were going down, we were going down fighting,” Melvin said. “We were constantly adding pressure the whole game. We weren’t coming up with it quite enough early on in the game but the attitude was there, the momentum was there and until you make that last out and that last strike, you’re still alive. During streaks like that, you go down easy at the end and that just wasn’t the case. That’s always a sign that you’re going to come out of it. I’m really glad they fought through and did it tonight. I’d have had a good feeling tomorrow even if we didn’t come through, but to fight back is a great feeling.”

Cliff Pennington and Sizemore led the A’s with three hits.

White Sox starter Edwin Jackson pitched six innings and allowed two runs and eight hits.

Graham Godfrey made his major league debut with Brett Anderson sidelined by elbow soreness. Godfrey allowed five runs and nine hits over 4 1-3 innings.

Godfrey was 7-1 with a 2.50 ERA for Triple-A Sacramento. The 26-year-old right-hander started one game for Double-A Midland before being promoted to Sacramento.

Trailing 1-0 in the first inning, Carlos Quentin drew a two-out walk, then Konerko followed with his 16th home run and second in as many days to put Chicago ahead.

It was Konerko’s ninth straight game with an extra-base hit, a franchise record.

The White Sox left the bases loaded after Godfrey struck out Gordon Beckham.

Konerko is 20 for 42 with six doubles, six home runs and 14 RBIs during his 11-game hitting streak, raising his average from .287 to .321. He has hit six home runs in his last nine games.

Jemile Weeks led off the third with a triple. Center fielder Alex Rios had a bad read on the ball and initially turned in the wrong direction as the ball went over his head. Weeks later scored on Pennington’s infield single to tie it at 2.

The White Sox got the lead back for Jackson in the fifth.

Alexei Ramirez led off with a double, then Quentin followed a slow bouncer to third baseman Scott Sizemore who made an off balanced throw to first which got away from Barton. Ramirez ended up scoring on the throwing error. Godfrey was chased after giving up a single to Pierzynski. Quentin hustled into third on the hit to right and Pierzynski took second on the throw. Quentin ended up scoring on Rios’ groundout and Adam Dunn drove in Pierzynski with a single to give the White Sox a 5-2 lead.

With one out in the first, Pennington doubled down the left-field line. One out later, he scored on Willingham’s single.

Coco Crisp scored on pinch-hitter Conor Jackson’s groundout in the seventh.
NOTES: Konerko previously shared the consecutive extra-base hit streak with Al Simmons, who set it in 1935. … Rios and Dunn drove in a run in the same game this season for the third time. … Quentin extended his hitting streak to 12 games.