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Podsednik, Thome lift White Sox over Athletics

Apr 10, 2007 - 5:24 AM OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Scott Podsednik and Jim Thome helped reverse a long history of futility for the Chicago White Sox.

Podsednik and Thome homered and had three hits apiece to lead the White Sox to a 4-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

Chicago broke a four-game losing streak in Oakland and won for just the fifth time in 28 games at McAfee Coliseum.

Facing Athletics ace Rich Harden did not seem to be the ideal recipe to break out of the funk for the White Sox, who were held to one hit over seven innings on Sunday by reigning Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana of Minnesota.

Harden (1-1) pitched exceptionally well but was outdueled by Chicago starter Jose Contreras. Harden gave up two runs and five hits while striking out six in six innings.

Contreras (1-1) bounced back from a dismal outing on Opening Day, allowing just one run and four hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked four. The Cuban righthander lasted just one inning and was rocked for eight runs and seven innings in a 12-5 loss to Cleveland.

Travis Buck's RBI double in the second inning gave the A's a 1-0 lead, but they left the bases loaded in the third inning and it came back to haunt them.

Thome led off the fourth with a long homer to center field - his second of the season - to tie it at 1-1 and Podsednik drilled a solo shot with two out in the fifth to put Chicago ahead to stay.

Podsednik led off the eighth inning with a single and came around on Thome's RBI single off Jay Marshall for a 3-1 lead. Jermaine Dye added a run-scoring sacrifice fly off reliever Kiko Calero.

Mike MacDougal, Matt Thornton and Bobby Jenks finished up for the White Sox.