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Suzuki, Bonser lead Athletics over White Sox 3-0

Sep 21, 2010 - 6:15 AM OAKLAND, Calif.(AP) -- Boof Bonser may have wondered if he would get the chance to pitch in the major leagues again. Winning, that was the last thing on his mind.

Bonser won for the first time in more than two years, Chris Carter finally got his first major league hit and the Oakland Athletics sent the White Sox to their seventh straight loss, beating Chicago 3-0 on Monday night.

"This year has been crazy," said Bonser, who signed a minor league deal with the A's in July after his release from the Red Sox. "Starting in Boston and then coming here; it's been interesting."

Bonser missed all of last season following labrum and rotator cuff surgery. He appeared in two games with the Red Sox before he was designated for assignment.

"I was joking around about winning, but really, it doesn't matter," Bonser said. "Being hurt dampens things. I'm happy as long as I can get out there and pitch."

Kurt Suzuki had three hits and two RBIs as the A's won their third in four games. Daric Barton also drove in a run.

Andruw Jones doubled and singled for the White Sox, who matched their longest losing streak since April 28 to May 5, 2008.

"Today was kind of a lousy game; very bad," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I'm disappointed in the losing streak because it came at a bad time for us."

Chicago is on the brink of being eliminated from the AL Central race. The White Sox fell 11 games behind the first-place Minnesota Twins, who can clinch their second consecutive division title Tuesday night with a win over Cleveland and a Chicago loss in Oakland.

A's starter Gio Gonzalez allowed four hits in six innings, striking out seven and walking four. Bonser (1-0) tossed a perfect seventh for his first major league win since June 4, 2008, with Minnesota against Baltimore.

"Gio has come a long way," Guillen said. "Since high school he's wanted to be good, to be noticed. He wanted people to talk about him. The biggest thing is his maturity. He has a chance to have a good career."

Michael Wuertz worked the eighth and Craig Breslow got three outs for his third save.

White Sox starter Gavin Floyd left after only seven pitches with tightness in the back of his right shoulder. He did not get an out.

"I started feeling it my last start but I got some treatment and it felt better," Floyd said. "But I felt it every pitch and it didn't seem like normal soreness."

Tony Pena pitched six shutout innings in relief, allowing six hits. He walked two and struck out two.

Scott Linebrink (3-2) allowed all three runs - one earned - in the seventh.

Carter's single leading off the seventh sparked the decisive rally. Carter was hitless in his first 33 at-bats, the longest streak to start a career by a non-pitcher since Texas' Vic Harris began 0 for 36 in 1972.

"He couldn't do it at a better time," Gonzalez said. "He did it in style, in front of the home crowd. He stepped it up big time."

Linebrink's throwing error on Cliff Pennington's bunt put runners on first and second, and Rajai Davis beat out a bunt to load the bases. Barton's groundout allowed pinch-runner Greg Gross to score, and one out later Suzuki added a two-run single.

"Suzuki has been struggling," A's manager Bob Geren said. "It's good he had a nice night. We need him down the stretch."

Chicago had runners on second and third with one out in the second but failed to score, and Gonzalez walked the bases loaded with two outs in the fourth before escaping.

NOTES: A's closer Andrew Bailey has soreness in his right elbow and will not pitch for a couple of days. ... Floyd, who has struggled in his last few outings, is 3-0 with a 1.32 ERA in five career starts against Oakland. ... Pena may take Floyd's spot in the rotation. ... A's OF Coco Crisp missed his second game with a fractured pinkie and will likely miss the rest of the season. ... Breslow has four career saves. ... The White Sox have allowed 23 of their last 27 runs in the seventh inning or later. ... Manny Ramirez has reached base in 16 of his 18 games with the White Sox.