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White Sox sink Devils Rays with four-run fifth

Jun 27, 2007 - 3:05 AM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- The Chicago White Sox continued striking out at an alarming rate, but when they made contact, they made it count against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Andy Gonzalez and Jim Thome hit back-to-back home runs to key a four-run fifth inning as the White Sox defeated the Devil Rays, 6-1, on Tuesday.

Jon Garland (5-5) ended a two-game losing streak by scattering five hits over seven innings for the White Sox, who won consecutive games for the first time since defeating Oakland May 21-22.

"We've won two games in a row," A.J. Pierzynski said. "It's been a long time since we can say that."

Chicago, which struck out 15 times in Monday's win, struck out 11 more times on Tuesday, including seven in the first four innings. In their last five games, White Sox batters have struck out 56 times.

A Tampa Bay promotion allows fans to exchange their game tickets for a free pizza whenever Rays pitchers strike out at least 10 batters, marking the second consecutive night they won free pizzas.

"I'm going to buy me a ticket tomorrow, I have to," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I feel bad for the people who make pizza. They'll go out of business.

"If we strike out that way and continue to win, I'll take it."

With two outs in the fifth, the White Sox collected six consecutive hits to blow the game open.

Juan Uribe started the four-run outburst with a single. Scott Podsednik followed with a single up the middle that Devil Rays starter James Shields knocked down, but his throw eluded first baseman Carlos Pena, allowing Uribe to score from first for a 2-0 lead.

On the next pitch, Gonzalez hit his first major league home run, giving the White Sox a 4-0 lead. Thome followed with a solo blast to left for a 5-0 cushion.

"It's a great feeling," Gonzalez said. "Yesterday four hits, today a home run. I'm feeling good."

Gonzalez, who entered the series with only one RBI this season, has five in the past two games.

Shields (6-3) started the season 6-0 but has lost his last three outings. He has allowed at least five runs in each loss.

"I think what's piled up against him are homers," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "He's made some mistakes that turn into home runs. That's hurt him more than anything."

Shields' nine hits allowed and 11 strikeouts were both one off his season high in each category.

"It's frustrating, I've got to get better," Shields said. "I didn't do my job today in the fifth inning. It happens so fast as a pitcher you have to get off the mound and relax. You throw 107 pitches and it's funny, because it comes down to four pitches."

The Devil Rays avoided being shut out for the first time since June 13, when Greg Norton hit a solo home run in the fifth inning off Garland.

"I threw some key pitches in key situations," Garland said. "I worked off their aggressiveness and got some key double plays at the end."

Tampa Bay's Delmon Young singled in the seventh to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, one off his career high.