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Braden shuts down White Sox in A's 6-2 win

Aug 1, 2010 - 3:19 AM CHICAGO(AP) -- Dallas Braden proved White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen wrong.

Braden pitched his third complete game of the season, Kevin Kouzmanoff homered among his three hits and the Oakland Athletics ended the Chicago White Sox's 12-game home winning streak, 6-2 Saturday night.

Guillen was convinced his lineup would have a better showing against Braden (6-7), who beat the White Sox on July 25 in Oakland to end his five-game skid and win for the first time since pitching a perfect game May 9.

"Dallas was outstanding. Thank God I don't bet in Vegas or have that disease of betting, because I could have bet we would have a better game against him today than we did in Oakland. It was the opposite," Guillen said. "I (said) that we will (do) a better job against him. I guess I was wrong. He threw the ball very well, and his changeup was outstanding."

Braden held the White Sox to two runs eight hits. He won consecutive starts for the first time since winning three straight from Aril 11-22. The left-hander struck out five and walked one.

Braden took pride in manager Bob Geren's decision to allow him to finish the game.

"That's the confidence we're all seeking from our manager. It's good to see he has that confidence," Braden said. "More than often it's safer to go with matchups but the boys got on them early today and I was able to do it from there."

Andruw Jones homered for the White Sox, who had won five straight overall. Chicago's previous loss at U.S. Cellular Field came on June 27 against the Cubs.

The White Sox dropped to 19-2 in their last 21 home games and had their AL Central lead trimmed to a half-game over Minnesota, which beat the Seattle Mariners 4-0. Guillen said he isn't keeping tabs on the Twins.

"I'll be honest with you guys, I watch the scoreboard because how big that thing is here. There's no doubt about it," Guillen said. "I'm not worried, because I think it's still too early. I don't worry because it's not a surprise to those guys behind us. That's why right now I don't worry about the scoreboard."

Braden took a liner from Juan Pierre off his left thigh in the sixth inning. Braden said he was fine and at the time took issue with the mound visit from Geren and a team trainer to see if he was OK.

"I was kind of irritated, I was bitter," Braden said. "He asked me where it hit me and I said It hit me in the neck. I feel fine."

The A's roughed up White Sox starter John Danks (11-8) with a four-run second inning. Danks was 4-0 in his four previous starts with a 2.05 ERA. He came into the game 4-0 and a 1.62 ERA in five starts against Oakland.

"We're playing good right now, we're playing to our capabilities," Danks said. "It's fun and even today we didn't feel like we were out of the game. It makes a lot of fun always feeling you know you're going to win every game. Fortunately, like I said, I dug us too deep of a hole."

After a 1-2-3 first, the Athletics batted around in the second inning. Kouzmanoff led off with a single and, one out later, Adam Rosales singled to center. Rajai Davis followed with an RBI single.

Mark Ellis walked to load the bases, then Matt Carson followed with an RBI single. After Crisp struck out, Daric Barton hit a two-run single to right to give the Athletics a 4-0 lead.

Kouzmanoff led off the third inning with a drive to center for his 10th homer of the season," Kouzmanoff said. "Dallas pitched a great game. He was busting his tail, making pitches he was supposed to make. He made one mistake but other than that he pitched a great ballgame."

Trailing 5-0 in the seventh, Dayan Viciedo singled and Jones followed with his 15th homer.

Oakland got a run back in the eighth with Ellis' sacrifice fly.

NOTES: RHP Edwin Jackson joined his new team, a day after the White Sox acquired him from Arizona. Jackson is scheduled to start Wednesday against one of his four former teams, the Detroit Tigers. "It's a great group of guys. They come out and play hard every day. I'm excited to be here and to be able to be thrown in the mix and make a playoff run," Jackson said. ... White Sox INF Mark Teahen was 3 for 4 with two RBIs in his first rehab game. Teahen was placed on the DL with a broken right middle finger on June 1.