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Floyd outstanding again as White Sox beat A's 4-1

Aug 1, 2010 - 10:29 PM CHICAGO(AP) -- Gavin Floyd is turning into a sure thing for White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.

Floyd carried a perfect game into the sixth inning before settling for another outstanding outing, leading Chicago to a 4-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday.

Brent Lillibridge hit a three-run triple for Chicago, which has won six of seven. The White Sox also improved to 20-2 in their last 22 games at U.S. Cellular Field.

Floyd (7-8) allowed one run and four hits in seven-plus innings, improving to 5-2 with a 1.06 ERA in his last 11 starts. The 6-foot-6 right-hander hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in a game since a loss to Texas on June 2.

"This kid, like we all know, every time he's on, he's tough," Guillen said. "He was facing a pretty good one, too."

Oakland starter Gio Gonzalez (9-7), who was drafted by the White Sox in the first round of the 2004 draft, pitched eight innings for his first career complete game. He had a career-high 11 strikeouts without a walk, and yielded six hits.

"You look at it bittersweet," Gonzalez said. "I threw a complete game, we battled all the way through and kept the team in the game. The team fought all the way to the end. We didn't give up and we stayed swinging."

Floyd walked Cliff Pennington with none out in the sixth for Oakland's first baserunner. He then surrendered a one-out single to Matt Carson. Two more singles for Rajai Davis and Daric Barton cut Chicago's lead to 4-1 and left the bases loaded.

But Floyd struck out Jack Cust and got Kevin Kouzmanoff to ground out, limiting the damage.

"I kind of go out there and expect the pitcher's going to bring their 'A' game, no matter who it is," Floyd said. "He pitched real well today. Fortunately we got the four runs off him.

"You just try to think that they're throwing a no-hitter no matter what, you know? You've got to go out there and try to make the same pitches," Floyd added.

Carlos Quentin hit a one-out single in the fifth for Chicago's first baserunner against Gonzalez. Ramon Castro then reached on an infield hit and Gonzalez hit Andruw Jones with two out to load the bases.

Lillibridge, playing second in place of Gordon Beckham, followed with a hard liner to right field that got by a diving Carson before rolling to the fence. Juan Pierre added a bunt single to make it 4-0.

"A game like that was just a lot of fun," Lillibridge said.

Carson said he felt bad for Gonzalez.

"He threw a great game," he said. "That was the only hiccup and I was part of it. It doesn't feel good but it was an aggressive play and if I would have caught it, it would have been great. That's what happens."

Floyd was backed by Chicago's strong bullpen. Matt Thornton induced a double-play ball by Barton in the eighth and J.J. Putz struck out Kouzmanoff to end the inning. Bobby Jenks struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 22nd save in 24 opportunities.

NOTES: Beckham rested. ... Oakland C Kurt Suzuki had the day off after only missing two games in July. He finished the month hitting .191.