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Buehrle baffles Marlins in 8-0 White Sox win

May 22, 2010 - 3:39 AM CHICAGO(AP) -- Interleague play was just what Mark Buehrle needed to break out of a slump.

The left-hander pitched eight scoreless innings to win for the first time in six decisions and Alexei Ramirez matched a career-high with five RBIs as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Florida Marlins 8-0 on Friday night.

Ramirez hit a three-run homer and a two-run double, and Mark Kotsay was 3 for 4 with a home run and three runs scored for Chicago, which won for just the fifth time in 13 games.

In his previous six starts, Buehrle (3-5) was 0-5 with a 6.44 ERA. He was 4-12 with a 4.97 ERA in 21 starts since his perfect game last season. He allowed three hits and three walks against Florida, throwing 91 pitches.

Interleague play always seems to provide a lift to Buehrle. He is has won six straight decisions against National League teams.

"I feel it's to my advantage because a lot of these guys I have not seen. To be honest with you, I get sick of facing Kansas City and Cleveland. Guys got 100 at bats against me, what else are you going to throw?" Buehrle said. "I'm not saying the National League is any easier, I have pitched well against them. If I faced them more I think it would be different."

Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco (4-3) had his worst start of the season, allowing eight runs on 10 hits in 5 1-3 innings.

With Buehrle working efficiently and rapidly, the game was finished in 2:08.

"I like it. I think that's the way the pace of game should be. I hope guys are paying attention, I hope the league is paying attention. That's the way it should be played. Get the ball and pitch. That's the way we preach on our side," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Florida, which came in with the best interleague record in the NL at 120-99, was shut out for the first time this season.

"To me, this is one of the top three teams I faced all year," Buehrle said. "They're taking the ball the other way, I was making good pitches and they were hitting the ball pretty hard. This is a game I could see giving up four or five runs like my last five outings have been. To be honest with you, luck is on my side."

He allowed a leadoff double to Gaby Sanchez in the sixth inning, but came back and struck out Hanley Ramirez. It was Buehrle's first strikeout in 12 innings. Jorge Cantu lined out to Carlos Quentin in right and Sanchez got doubled off second by Quentin's throw.

After getting swept in a two game series by the Los Angeles Angels, the White Sox gave Buehrle early run support. Ramirez doubled off the wall two score two runs in the second.

Kotsay hit his fourth homer on the first pitch in the fourth inning.

"I left some pitches up and they didn't miss them," Nolasco said. "I felt good today and felt terrible last time but the results were flip-flopped.

"I didn't get away with any mistakes. Not one."

Buehrle got more insurance in the sixth inning, Alex Rios led off with a double and scored on Paul Konerko's RBI single. Kotsay and Quentin followed with back-to-back single and Teahen had a sacrifice fly. Ramirez then chased Nolasco with a three-run shot to left. It was Ramirez's third of the season.

NOTES: Sergio Santos pitched the final inning for Chicago and struck out two. ... The White Sox had 12 hits, but three Florida pitchers did not walk a batter.