Read More: Paul Konerko (1B – CWS), Felix Hernandez (P – SEA), Miguel Olivo (C – SEA), Carlos Quentin (RF – CWS), Omar Vizquel (SS – CWS), Adam Kennedy (2B – SEA), Philip Humber (P – CWS), Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox

The Mariners (31-30) offense went silent in a 5-1 loss against the Chicago White Sox (29-33) at U.S. Cellular Field on Tuesday night. After blowing up for 26 runs in a weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Mariners have only managed to score two runs in two games so far against the Chicago White Sox. 

 

While the Mariners offense did struggle against White Sox starter Philip Humber, Felix Hernandez was not at his top form either. Chicago got on the board early with a Paul Konerko solo home run in the bottom of the second inning. Then, in the third inning, Omar Vizquel tripled to right field to drive in two White Sox runners. After the triple, Carlos Quentin hit a two-run home run in the same inning and extended the White Sox lead to 5-1. 

 

Despite the struggles early, Eric Wedge kept Felix Hernandez in until the seventh inning. Hernandez did not allow a run for the rest of the game, but the White Sox offense got enough work done early. The five earned runs given up was the most Hernandez has surrendered in a game all season. 

 

Humber was masterful in 7.2 innings of work. He surrendered only one run over five hits and three walks. Miguel Olivo drove in the only Mariners run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth inning to score Adam Kennedy from third. 

 

For more news and information regarding the Mariners and tonight’s game head on over to SB Nation’s Mariners blog, Lookout Landing.

TAMPA BAY - The Chicago White Sox snapped a seven-game losing streak by clobbering the Tampa Bay Rays 9-2 at Tropicana Field on Thursday.

Chicago lead-off hitter Juan Pierre wreaked havoc with his speed, bunting safely twice and using his pace to score three runs.

Leading 1-0, Chicago sent nine batters to the plate in the third inning and scored four times to open a 5-0 lead. They added one more run against Rays starter Jeff Niemann in the fifth inning.

Niemann allowed five runs on six hits while striking out four and walking two in 4.2 innings, dropping his record to 0-3 on the season.

White Sox starter Floyd Gavin pitched six innings allowing two runs and two walks while striking out four for his second win.

Chicago added two more runs in the sixth inning and one more in the eighth to complete the scoring. - Reuters

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Jeff Niemann struggled again and the Chicago White Sox took full advantage.

Omar Vizquel, A.J. Pierzynski, Carlos Quentin and Paul Konerko each drove in two runs and the White Sox stopped a seven-game losing streak with a 9-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night.

Niemann (0-3) lasted just 4 2-3 innings, giving up six runs and six hits. He struck out four, walked two, hit two batters and threw a wild pitch.

“He’s still not back where we need him to be, but he’s on the verge,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “He’s not far off despite what you may think. With him it’s about sharpness, command with his pitches and he’s not there yet. You see flashes of it.”

Niemann is 1-8 with an 8.87 ERA in 11 starts since going on the disabled list last year with a strained shoulder.

“I’m feeling good,” Niemann said. “I just have to get better and make those crucial pitches.”

The White Sox had been outscored 11-2 in losing the first three games of the four-game series against Tampa Bay.

Gavin Floyd (2-1) allowed two runs in six innings. He struck out seven and hit two batters.

Sam Fuld had two RBIs for the Rays, who lost for just the second time in 10 games. Tampa Bay went 6-2 during an eight-game homestand.

“We didn’t win tonight, but when you win three out of four versus the Twins and then the White Sox, that’s not bad,” Maddon said. “I’ll take it.”

Juan Pierre opened the first with a bunt single and went to third when Rays third baseman Felipe Lopez was charged with an error for an errant throw to first on the play. Pierre then scored to make it 1-0 on Vizquel’s grounder.

Pierre also started a four-run third against Niemann with another bunt single. Vizquel doubled home a run, Konerko and Adam Dunn each had RBI singles and Pierzynski hit a sacrifice fly.

“The way the team’s playing right now, all you want to do is go out there and keep the momentum rolling,” Niemann said. “Giving up a big inning like that is definitely going to halt the momentum.”

Fuld cut the Rays’ deficit to 5-2 in the fourth with a two-run single.

Chicago took a 6-2 lead on Pierzynski’s RBI single in the fifth. Quentin extended the advantage to 8-2 on a two-run double during the sixth.

Konerko added an RBI single in the eighth.

Rays designated hitter Johnny Damon went 1 for 4 in his return after missing the previous three games because of a left ring finger injury. He picked up career hit 2,585, which moved him past Reggie Jackson into 79th place all-time, on his third-inning single.

“He looked good after taking a couple days off,” Maddon said.

NOTES: Damon has a 10-game hitting streak. … All eight Rays’ hits were singles. … Fuld went 2 for 5 for his seventh multihit game this season. … Vizquel replaced 2B Gordon Beckham, who is mired in a 2 for 25 slide. Guillen said he may move Beckham out of the second spot in the lineup to help the infielder relax. … Vizquel played in his 2,855th game, which is one away from tying Robin Yount for 14th place all-time.

CBSSports.com wire reports
April 21, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A bunch of White Sox players started hitting again, all at once.

Omar Vizquel, A.J. Pierzynski, Carlos Quentin and Paul Konerko each drove in two runs and the White Sox stopped a seven-game losing streak with a 9-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night.

“That’s the way we expected to play everyday, to be honest with you,” Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said. “I don’t want to be cocky. This team is allowed to play that way because of the way we built this ballclub and the talent we have.”

The White Sox had been outscored 11-2 in losing the first three games of the four-game series against Tampa Bay.

“We needed a game like that,” Guillen said. “We need a game to build confidence. We were desperate for a win. We all knew that. We stayed positive. The guys were optimistic.”

Gavin Floyd (2-1) allowed two runs in six innings. He struck out seven and hit two batters.

Sam Fuld had two RBI for the Rays, who lost for just the second time in 10 games.

Juan Pierre opened the first with a bunt single and went to third when Rays third baseman Felipe Lopez was charged with an error for an errant throw to first on the play. Pierre then scored to make it 1-0 on Vizquel’s grounder.

“Definitely tried to get off to a good start and just get the lead,” Pierre said. “A sigh of relief just to have the lead in that first inning.”

Pierre also started a four-run third against Jeff Niemann (0-3) with another bunt single. Vizquel doubled home a run, Konerko and Adam Dunn each had RBI singles and Pierzynski hit a sacrifice fly.

“Pierre really set the tone with the bunts, and then Vizquel … the top of the order pretty much set the tone for them,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

Fuld cut the Rays’ deficit to 5-2 in the fourth with a two-run single.

Chicago took a 6-2 lead on Pierzynski’s RBI single in the fifth. Quentin extended the advantage to 8-2 on a two-run double during the sixth.

Konerko added an RBI single in the eighth.

“Maybe this might be a little momentum we need going into the next series, but everybody all around had a good game,” Pierre said. “Just a good feeling to get a win, again.”

Niemann lasted just 4 2/3 innings, giving up six runs and six hits. He struck out four, walked two, hit two batters and threw a wild pitch.

“The way the team’s playing right now, all you want to do is go out there and keep the momentum rolling,” Niemann said. “Giving up a big inning, that is definitely going to halt the momentum.”

Niemann is 1-8 with an 8.87 ERA in 11 starts since being on the disabled list last year for a strained right shoulder.

Rays designated hitter Johnny Damon went 1 for 4 in his return after missing the previous three games because of a left ring finger injury. He picked up career hit 2,585, which moved him past Reggie Jackson into 79th place all-time, on his third-inning single.

Notes

• Vizquel replaced 2B Gordon Beckham, who is mired in a 2 for 25 slide. Guillen said he may move Beckham out of the second spot in the lineup to help the infielder relax.
• Vizquel played in his 2,855th game, which is one away from tying Robin Yount for 14th place all-time.
• Damon has a 10-game hitting streak.
• It was Vizquel’s first multi-RBI game since last Aug. 27 against the New York Yankees.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — A bunch of White Sox players started hitting again, all at once.

Omar Vizquel, A.J. Pierzynski, Carlos Quentin and Paul Konerko each drove in two runs and the White Sox stopped a seven-game losing streak with a 9-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night.

“That’s the way we expected to play everyday, to be honest with you,” Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said. “I don’t want to be cocky. This team is allowed to play that way because of the way we built this ballclub and the talent we have.”

The White Sox had been outscored 11-2 in losing the first three games of the four-game series against Tampa Bay.

“We needed a game like that,” Guillen said. “We need a game to build confidence. We were desperate for a win. We all knew that. We stayed positive. The guys were optimistic.”

Gavin Floyd (2-1) allowed two runs in six innings. He struck out seven and hit two batters.

Sam Fuld had two RBIs for the Rays, who lost for just the second time in 10 games.

Juan Pierre opened the first with a bunt single and went to third when Rays third baseman Felipe Lopez was charged with an error for an errant throw to first on the play. Pierre then scored to make it 1-0 on Vizquel’s grounder.

“Definitely tried to get off to a good start and just get the lead,” Pierre said. “A sigh of relief just to have the lead in that first inning.”

Pierre also started a four-run third against Jeff Niemann (0-3) with another bunt single. Vizquel doubled home a run, Konerko and Adam Dunn each had RBI singles and Pierzynski hit a sacrifice fly.

“Pierre really set the tone with the bunts, and then Vizquel … the top of the order pretty much set the tone for them,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

Fuld cut the Rays’ deficit to 5-2 in the fourth with a two-run single.

Chicago took a 6-2 lead on Pierzynski’s RBI single in the fifth. Quentin extended the advantage to 8-2 on a two-run double during the sixth.

Konerko added an RBI single in the eighth.

“Maybe this might be a little momentum we need going into the next series, but everybody all around had a good game,” Pierre said. “Just a good feeling to get a win, again.”

Niemann lasted just 4 2-3 innings, giving up six runs and six hits. He struck out four, walked two, hit two batters and threw a wild pitch.

“The way the team’s playing right now, all you want to do is go out there and keep the momentum rolling,” Niemann said. “Giving up a big inning, that is definitely going to halt the momentum.”

Niemann is 1-8 with an 8.87 ERA in 11 starts since being on the disabled list last year for a strained right shoulder.

Rays designated hitter Johnny Damon went 1 for 4 in his return after missing the previous three games because of a left ring finger injury. He picked up career hit 2,585, which moved him past Reggie Jackson into 79th place all-time, on his third-inning single.

NOTES: Vizquel replaced 2B Gordon Beckham, who is mired in a 2 for 25 slide. Guillen said he may move Beckham out of the second spot in the lineup to help the infielder relax. … Vizquel played in his 2,855th game, which is one away from tying Robin Yount for 14th place all-time. … Damon has a 10-game hitting streak. … It was Vizquel’s first multi-RBI game since last Aug. 27 against the New York Yankees.