Red Sox 1 - 3 White Sox
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  for this game

ChiSox down Red Sox, Wakefield denied milestone

Jul 30, 2011 - 3:54 AM

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Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Gavin Floyd worked seven innings and A.J. Pierzynski snapped a tie with a two-run homer as Chicago got past Boston, 3-1, in the opener of a three-game series.

Paul Konerko drove in the other run for the White Sox, winners in five of six.

Floyd (9-9) allowed three hits and a run while fanning six and walking two. Sergio Santos worked a perfect ninth to post his 22nd save.

The White Sox have topped the Red Sox in 14 of their last 16 meetings dating back to August of 2009.

"I don't know. It seems like we always play them close, they're always good games," Pierzynski said when asked to what he can attribute his club's success against the perennial contenders. "I remember some games where they were slugfests and we came back late, but in this one we made the pitches and the plays when we had to."

Jarrod Saltalamacchia's solo homer was the lone offense for the Red Sox, who have dropped two in a row.

Tim Wakefield (6-4) was denied in his first attempt to reach 200 career wins, ending up charged with three runs on three hits with five strikeouts over seven full frames.

"I thought about it a little bit before the game, but once I got through warmups and got to the mound, I was trying to get the win for us and not for me personally," said the veteran knuckleballer if that milestone weighed on his mind.

Dustin Pedroia saw his AL-best hit streak ended at 25 games after going 0- for-4. He also failed to reach base for the first time in 37 contests.

Down by a run, Juan Pierre began the home sixth with a bunt single, advanced on a sacrifice, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Konerko fly to left.

Carlos Quentin then worked a leadoff walk in the seventh and Pierzynski followed with a two-run homer to right center which put the ChiSox ahead 3-1.

Matt Thornton held Boston at bay in the eighth and Santos retired the side in order to lock up the win.

Saltalamacchia led off the third with his ninth homer of the season, and Wakefield made that edge hold up by allowing just one hit through the first five innings.

Chicago was finally untracked on Adam Dunn's single with two down in the fourth. Quentin popped out to end the frame and keep the visitors up 1-0.

Game Notes

Floyd upped his career mark to 6-0 against the Red Sox...Boston first baseman Adrian Gonzalez was a late scratch due to a stiff neck...Wakefield fell to 7-13 lifetime against Chicago's southsiders.






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