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Vazquez goes the distance to lead White Sox past Orioles

Jul 4, 2007 - 4:43 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Javier Vazquez did his part to help the Chicago White Sox get over a tough loss.

Vazquez made just one mistake in a complete game gem to lead the White Sox to a 5-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.

Baltimore rallied for a 7-6 victory on Monday, scoring five runs over the final two innings, including two in the ninth off of closer Bobby Jenks.

Vazquez (5-5) gave Jenks and the rest of the White Sox bullpen the night off, allowing one run and four hits with seven strikeouts in the 21st complete game of his career and first of the season.

"Javy was great. I think we needed that," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "We needed to bounce back from last night's game, we can be better than that. I feel real good about this ballclub today and the way we showed up after we lost the game last night."

Tuesday's effort continued a recent trend from Vazquez, who had been almost untouchable in his previous two starts, allowing just two runs with 18 strikeouts in 14 frames.

"We're getting quality outings out of him time after time," Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "He had a good changeup, a good curveball and put his fastball where he wanted it, and he was in complete control tonight."

The Puerto Rican righthander allowed just a solo home run to Kevin Millar in the second inning while improving to 6-2 in 10 career outings vs. Baltimore.

Vazquez was more and more dominant as the game wore on. He did not allow a hit after the fourth inning and got Millar on a weak groundout to first to end the game.

"It's not easy. It might look easy, but believe me, it's not," Vazquez said. "You have to go out there and make good pitches because they have a good lineup. All the teams in the American League have good lineups."

The home run by Millar tied the game, 1-1, but the White Sox responded with a run in the third against Baltimore starter Daniel Cabrera and three more in the fourth to give Vazquez all the support he needed.

Jermaine Dye grounded into double play in the third, scoring Jim Thome. In the fourth Thome hit a three-run homer, his 12th of the season, to extend the lead to 5-1.

Cabrera (6-9) came up short in his effort to win his third consecutive road game. He allowed five runs and six hits in six innings with five walks and four strikeouts.

"He had too many three-ball counts," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "The (walks) are going to be a part of his game. The walks and strikeouts will even themselves out. We maxed him out with his pitches, which saved our bullpen."