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Danks blanks Dodgers as White Sox win

Jun 27, 2008 - 12:26 AM By Jonathan Raber PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- John Danks doesn't have an explanation for his success away from the confines of U.S. Cellular Field, but at this point he isn't about to question it.

Danks continued his road dominance with six shutout innings as the Chicago White Sox blanked the Los Angeles Dodgers, 2-0, in interleague play on Thursday afternoon.

Alexei Ramirez had a pair of hits and knocked in a run and Carlos Quentin added an RBI and a steal for Chicago.

Danks (5-4), who leads the majors with a 1.48 ERA away from home, had another solid road performance. The 23-year-old lefthander, who scattered four hits and four walks while striking out three, recorded his first win - home or away - since May 29.

"It has to be just a coincidence, I don't know," Danks said of his performance on the road and who has an ERA is a full two runs lower away from home. "I don't feel any different going into games at home as opposed to games on the road. Fortunately, I've done real well on the road, and I could throw better at home, but it's just part of the game."

Matt Thornton and Octavio Dotel combined to pitch the seventh before Scott Linebrink hurled a 1-2-3 eighth. Closer Bobby Jenks retired the side in the ninth to record his 17th save of the season.

"Our bullpen has been great all year long," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said of his relief pitchers who lead the majors in ERA. "Once again, they did a tremendous job."

The White Sox got the scoring started in the second inning on a broken-bat single to shallow left by Ramirez. In the following inning, Quentin added a run-scoring single that plated Orlando Cabrera for the 2-0 advantage.

The lead would stand as Danks was able to avoid serious trouble. He escaped the third inning unscathed after the first two batters reached base safely.

The Austin, Texas native also induced an inning-ending double-play in the fourth with runners on the corners.

A liner right back to the mound off the bat of Danny Ardoin gave Danks little time to react as the ball found his mitt, before he turned and fired to first.

"Fortunately, I was able to throw my glove up in the right spot," Danks said. "I didn't really even know I caught it at first. I definitely had luck on my side that inning."

Danks got in the act offensively as well, connecting for his first career hit with a sharp single off Corey Wade in the sixth.

"It's fun to have a batting average now," joked Danks, who was hitless in his eight previous career at-bats.

The punchless Dodgers were able to muster only one extra-base hit despite getting runners on, leaving Los Angeles manager Joe Torre to call it a game of missed opportunities.

"Offensively, you think you have it where you want it - a couple of men on base with the guys you want to hit," Torre said. "We just didn't produce."

Dodgers rookie starter Clayton Kershaw (0-2) was shaky in four-plus innings, allowing two runs and six hits with four walks, three strikeouts and two wild pitches. He exited after allowing the first two runners of the fifth to reach base.

Kershaw continues to search for his first career win in seven starts after also being dealt five no-decisions since being called up from Class AA Jacksonville just over a month ago.

"I'm sure he's more frustrated that we aren't winning," Torre said. "Pitchers can't control how many runs are scored. He keeps the opposition to two runs and that's a winnable game for us."

Juan Pierre stole his 31st and 32nd bases of the season for the Dodgers.