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Yankees score 18 runs in rout of White Sox

Aug 4, 2011 - 5:40 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The New York Yankees put together their best offensive game of the season Wednesday night, recording 23 hits in an 18-7 rout of the Chicago White Sox.

Derek Jeter led the offensive assault with a 5-for-6 performance at the plate. He scored four times and drove in two runs for the Yankees, who have won six in a row and have taken the first three contests of this four-game set.

Curtis Granderson went 4-for-6 with five RBI and two runs scored for New York. Robinson Cano hit a three-run homer and knocked in four runs, while Eric Chavez hit a two-run homer and drove in four.

Every New York starter had at least one hit and a run scored.

"It seemed like all the guys were having good at-bats and hitting balls hard," Jeter said.

Yankees starter A.J. Burnett was in line for the win but couldn't get out of the fifth inning. He gave up seven runs on 13 hits over 4 1/3 frames. Cory Wade (2-0) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief to pick up the victory.

Carlos Quentin hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs for the White Sox, who have dropped five in a row.

Chicago also had a solid offensive night, with every starter picking up a hit. The home team ended with 14 hits.

Gavin Floyd (9-10) lasted just 2 1/3 innings in the worst outing of his career, giving up 10 runs on nine hits.

The Yankees came out of the gates on fire, to say the least, scoring 13 runs over the first three innings.

New York started the game in unusual fashion, with Brett Gardner and Jeter reaching base on consecutive bunt singles. Granderson followed with a bloop single to center to load the bases, and Mark Teixeira knocked in Gardner with a sacrifice fly. Cano cleared the bases with a blast over the wall in right for an early 4-0 lead.

Chicago was able to get one run back in the home first. Juan Pierre hit a ground-rule double to right, moved to third on Omar Vizquel's bunt single and scored on a Quentin sacrifice fly.

The Yankees tacked on two more runs in the second, when the top of the lineup got a rally started again. With two down, Gardner was hit by a pitch and Jeter singled. Granderson made it a 6-1 contest with a two-run triple to right.

The visitors chased Floyd from the game with a seven-run third. Nick Swisher singled and scored on Chavez's blast to right. Jorge Posada doubled and Russell Martin walked prior to Will Ohman taking over on the mound. Gardner's infield singled loaded the bases with one out before Jeter hit a two-run single. After Granderson struck out swinging, Teixeira hit a two-run triple and Cano added a run-scoring single for a 13-1 lead.

"I think Ohman saved the bullpen," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Ohman went out and helped us to at least conserve the bullpen."

The White Sox had a big inning of their own in the fourth. A.J. Pierzynski doubled and Alejandro De Aza singled to put men on the corners with one out. Brent Morel and Pierre followed with RBI singles. Quentin hit a three-run homer to left two batters later to make it a 13-6 game.

The home team made it interesting with another run in the fifth. Pierzynski's double drove in Ramirez, who led off with a single. Wade took over for Burnett with a runners on second and third and one out, and got out of the jam to keep it a 13-7 contest.

But New York put the game away with a four-run seventh. Brian Bruney started the inning on the mound for Chicago, but was quickly tossed from the game. After Martin doubled, Gardner hit a chopper off the mound that went to first.

Gardner beat the throw with a head-first slide and Bruney, who covered first on the play, made a few comments to first base umpire Marvin Hudson before being ejected. Matt Thornton came in from the bullpen and gave up two-run singles to Granderson and Chavez.

Granderson added an RBI double in the eighth.

Game Notes

New York's 18 runs were a season-high...The Yankees have taken five of seven from the White Sox this season...Jeter recorded the fourth five-hit game of his career...Floyd had won his previous three starts...The White Sox were without first baseman Paul Konerko (bruised left knee/calf) for a third straight game...New York has won nine of 11 overall, but still sits a game back of the Boston Red Sox in the AL East with a three-game series between the two rivals slated for this weekend at Fenway Park...Major League Baseball will reportedly interview Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez regarding his alleged participation in illegal, high-stakes poker games. Rodriguez is currently on the 15-day disabled list after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. He is expected to begin workouts on Thursday...Ohman gave up three runs on six hits over 3 2/3 innings.