White Sox 4 - 2 Mariners
Final
  for this game

White Sox down Mariners

Aug 27, 2011 - 6:51 AM

Video

Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Brent Lillibridge's two-run homer in the fifth inning provided the decisive runs in the White Sox's 4-2 victory over the Mariners in the opener of a three-game series.

Alexei Ramirez and Alex Rios also drove in runs for Chicago, which had dropped five of seven. Jake Peavy (6-6) limited the Mariners to two runs in six innings to pick up the win.

Charlie Furbush (3-6) allowed all of Chicago's runs in five innings to absorb the loss for Seattle, which was coming off a series victory in Cleveland.

"He made it hard for himself. He threw a lot of pitches early on," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said of Furbush.

With runners on the corners and one away in the first, Rios took a pitch the opposite way, sending it down the right field line for an RBI double. Ramirez followed by hitting a blooper to left field to make it a 2-0 game.

Miguel Olivo got one of the runs back in the bottom of the second, which he led off by blasting Peavy's first-pitch fastball over the center field wall.

Trayvon Robinson's RBI single in the fourth tied the game, but Lillibridge gave the White Sox the lead again an inning later.

After Juan Pierre began the inning with a single, Lillibridge hit a 1-1 fastball deep to left field. Furbush left the fastball up and slightly in, and Lillibridge turned on it.

"It was exciting," said Lillibridge, a native of Everett, Washington. "I grew up watching games here. ... As a fan of the Mariners [growing up], to hit one at their park is very special. I won't forget it."

Matt Thornton allowed two hits in the seventh inning after taking over for Peavy, and Jesse Crain walked Olivo with two away to load the bases. But he struck out Kyle Seager to end the threat, then tossed a 1-2-3 eighth.

Chris Sale worked a shutout ninth for his fifth save.

Game Notes

Friday's game was the 1,000th regular season contest in the history of Safeco Field. The Mariners are 545-455 all-time at the stadium, including four games in which they were the "visiting" team...Chicago clinched a victory in the season series with the win. The White Sox are 5-2 vs. the Mariners this season, with two games to go...Peavy is 5-1 in seven career starts vs. Seattle.






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