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Danks sharp as White Sox edge Athletics

Aug 17, 2008 - 12:54 AM By Al Barba PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- John Danks battled his way through six innings and Juan Uribe and Toby Hall each had run-scoring hits as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Oakland Athletics, 2-1, on Saturday at McAfee Coliseum to even the three-game series at a game apiece.

D.J. Carrasco and Matt Thornton each pitched a scoreless inning of relief before Bobby Jenks came on to record the final three outs for his 25th save for the White Sox (69-53), who remain in a first-place tie with the Minnesota Twins (69-53) in the American League Central Division.

The win was welcome relief to Chicago, which has had its difficulties in recent trips to Oakland. The White Sox entered play with a 6-28 record at McAfee Coliseum since 2001.

"Every time we come here, you always think something is going to happen in a negative way. We've got to try to start not to think that way," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "It was an ugly game, but we won it. I don't know how we won it, but that might be a good sign for tomorrow and the future.

"I just wonder why they call it the Coliseum. Maybe every time everyone comes here, you get ready to be killed. That's the only reason they call it the Coliseum."

Danks (10-5) earned the win despite battling his command. The lefthander, who allowed at least one baserunner in each of the first five innings before pitching a perfect sixth, yielded one run and six hits with five walks and five strikeouts.

"You never want to have five walks," Danks said. "It was a struggle, to say the least. I was one pitch away just about every inning but the sixth from having them blow this thing wide open. (Catcher Toby Hall) did a (heck) of a job. All the guys on the infield making plays, Uribe, Orlando Cabrera and Alexei (Ramirez) turning that double play.

"You're not picky about getting wins, but you would definitely like it to be a little easier. Whenever we got into a tight situation, it felt like I was able to make the pitch."

With his six-inning effort, Danks improved to 4-0 lifetime with a 1.38 ERA against Oakland and 6-1 with a 2.54 ERA on the road this season.

The White Sox broke through for a pair of runs against Greg Smith in the second inning. Paul Konerko opened the frame with double and, after an infield out, Uribe doubled him home. Hall followed with an RBI single for a 2-0 advantage.

"I didn't feel like I threw too well. I felt like I got through it and held the White Sox's lineup to two runs," Smith said. "We still have another game with these guys and we still have a little season left, so we aren't throwing in the towel by any means."

Smith (5-12) walked a tightrope through five innings, allowing at least one baserunner in each frame. The lefthanded rookie, however, was able to minimize the damage despite surrendering two runs, eight hits and two walks with one strikeout.

"He had a lot of deep counts that ran his pitch count up pretty quick," Athletics manager Bob Geren said. "He was able to keep us in the game. It wasn't his best performance, but he was able to keep us in the game."

It marked the 17th time in 24 starts this season Smith has received support of two runs or less. He is now 0-6 with a 4.98 ERA in his last eight outings.

Oakland's lone run came in the third. Kurt Suzuki, who won Friday's game as a pinch hitter with a walk-off home run, doubled to open the frame and scored on a single to center field by Emil Brown.

The Athletics had a chance for a bigger inning, loading the bases with none out, but were unable score again as Frank Thomas lined into a double play and Daric Barton grounded out.

The loss continued the second-half skid for Oakland, which failed in its attempt to win back-to-back games for the first time since July 10-11.

The Athletics fell to 5-22 since the All-Star break and need a victory in Sunday's series finale to avoid dropping their 10th consecutive series and matching the franchise's longest such streak since moving to Oakland in 1968.