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Contreras solid, Konerko homers twice as White Sox roll

Apr 27, 2008 - 10:38 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Paul Konerko continued swinging a hot bat during a cold homestand.

Konerko homered twice on another dreary day in support of 6 2/3 solid innings from Jose Contreras as the Chicago White Sox rolled to a 6-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.

The first six games of Chicago's current homestand have seen a rainout, several rain delays and temperatures in the 40's and 50's.

"The key today was we really didn't have any wind," Konerko said. "Early in the year, the wind normally blows in here - a ball hit hard to left (field) will go out here and that's where I hit them."

Contreras (2-2) allowed just one run and five hits, and Konerko's second home run of the game sparked a three-run sixth inning that helped the White Sox take the four-game series.

"I just tried to throw strikes today," Contreras said through an interpreter. "The defense played great behind me and the guys got me some runs, that's all you can ask for."

In spite of the conditions, Konerko entered Sunday's game hitting .333 (6-18) for the week.

"I have been feeling good going back a few games," Konerko said. "Actually I felt better in a couple games where I didn't hit two home runs, but if you look up and down our lineup, every guy has had a part in our good start."

Konerko snapped a 1-1 tie by blasting an 0-2 fastball from Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie to left field for his second home run of the game and fifth of the season.

"I would like the two pitches back I threw to Konerko," Guthrie said. "If I had them back, I would throw a different pitch. Konerko did a nice job with them both, the second one was a fastball away he pulled for a home run."

Guthrie (0-3) was lifted after allowing a single to A.J. Pierzynski. Carlos Quentin singled off Matt Albers, who was betrayed by his defense one batter later.

Brian Anderson hit a ground ball to shortstop Brandon Fahey, who tried to gun down Pierzynski at home. However, his throw sailed past catcher Ramon Hernandez, and both runners scored for a 4-1 lead.

"I tried to get rid of the ball too quickly and rushed the throw," Fahey said. "So it ended up being a bad throw and costing us two runs."

The White Sox added two more runs in the seventh when reliever Greg Aquino walked the bases loaded and hit Quentin. Alexei Ramirez followed with an RBI groundout for a 6-1 edge.

Up until the sixth, the game had been a pitchers' duel - with the only runs coming via the home run.

Chicago took a 1-0 lead when Konerko led off the second inning by blasting a 3-1 fastball from Guthrie into the center field seats. But Brian Roberts knotted the game at 1-1 with his third home run of the season in the third.

The White Sox certainly need Konerko to stay hot since Jermaine Dye is out with a strained left groin.

"We need to have Paul going right now," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "With Jermaine Dye out of the lineup, it's important for us that Paulie keeps swinging a hot bat."

Guthrie allowed three runs - two earned - and five hits in five plus innings.

"I thought today that Jeremy didn't have his best location," Orioles manager Dave Trembly said. "That got his pitch count up early in the game. He competed the best he could."