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White Sox stay hot, pound Twins

Jun 8, 2008 - 11:40 PM By Rory Spears PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- What a difference a week makes for the Chicago White Sox.

Exactly one week after manager Ozzie Guillen erupted at his team's lack of offense, the White Sox won their sixth straight game by blasting the Minnesota Twins, 12-2, on Sunday.

Nick Swisher and and Alexei Ramirez each homered for Chicago (36-26), which opened its lead over the second-place Twins (31-32) to 5 1/2 games in the American League Central while outscoring opponents, 54-19, during the winning streak.

"We were waiting for an offensive explosion and now it's here," Guillen said. "Now everyone is starting to see what this team can do, there is no doubt we can do some damage."

The White Sox scored 10 or more runs for the third straight game Sunday, marking the first time since July 15-17, 2000, they had accomplished the feat.

Paul Konerko added two doubles, driving in two runs, and scored twice while Swisher's sixth homer of the season and Ramirez's fourth blast paced the offense.

"Baseball is a game of ups and downs," Swisher said. "That is why you play 162 games. Right now we are playing good baseball and really hitting the ball."

Minnesota jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when rookie Carlos Gomez, who led off the game with a base hit, scored on an infield groundout by Justin Morneau.

"We got off to a one-run lead but that's not enough," said Brendan Harris, who doubled after Gomez. "Then they came back and things snowballed on us. We need to get out to a bigger lead because they are hitting everything right now."

The White Sox did not wait long to jump out on top, taking a 3-1 lead in the second inning when Swisher's 380-foot line drive off Twins starter Kevin Slowey (2-6) landed in the Minnesota bullpen.

Chicago broke the game open in the third inning by scoring five runs on seven hits. Konerko's two-run double down the right field line was the key hit, scoring A.J. Pierzynski and Carlos Quentin to build a 5-1 lead.

"I know hitting is contagious," Konerko said. "We know we won't score 10 runs every game. Right now we are just going to ride this thing out."

Ramirez's home run off Juan Rincon capped a four-run fifth inning, making it 12-1.

Gavin Floyd (7-3) went seven innings to win for the fourth time in five starts. The righthander allowed just six hits and two runs while striking out a career-high nine and walking only one.

"Our team is hitting real well right now and it's easier to pitch with that kind of support," Floyd said. "I am just trying to keep my focus and keep pitching the way I have been."

Slowey lost his second consecutive start after lasting only three innings, allowing eight runs on 10 hits.

"The White Sox are hitting everything," Slowey said. "That's just it how it goes at times. I made some mistakes but they are very hot right now."

The game was delayed one hour, 29 minutes at the start because of rain.