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White Sox blow out Rays

Apr 10, 2011 - 11:04 PM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Paul Konerko hit a pair of solo homers and Gavin Floyd pitched eight solid innings, as the Chicago White Sox handled the Tampa Bay Rays, 6-1, in the finale of a four-game series.

Gordon Beckham also hit a solo home run for the White Sox, who took three out of four in this series to send the Rays to a 1-8 start.

Floyd (1-0) gave up an unearned run on four hits and also struck out eight for Chicago, which is off to a 6-3 start.

"I felt strong and just tried to hit the mitt, that's all," Floyd said. "I have confidence in myself that I can go out there and compete."

Tampa Bay starter Jeff Niemann (0-2) got rocked in 2 2/3 frames, allowing five runs -- three earned -- on five hits.

The White Sox scored all the runs they would need with a pair of homers in the first inning. Beckham got things going with a blast over the wall in left. Konerko stepped to the plate with two outs and smacked Niemann's offering over the wall in left for a 2-0 lead.

Tampa Bay put a man on third in the second. Matt Joyce doubled with one out and moved to third on a groundout. Kelly Shoppach went down swinging to end the frame, and that started Floyd's dominating performance.

Chicago gave Floyd more room to work with in the home second. It seemed like the White Sox were going to go down in order, as Mark Teahen hit a fly ball to left with two outs. Sam Fuld, who made a great grab in Saturday's game, dropped an easy catch. Teahen went to second on the play and Brent Morel doubled him home. Juan Pierre followed with an RBI single for a 4-0 lead.

A.J. Pierzynski's RBI base hit in the third gave Chicago a 5-0 margin. Konerko added a solo homer to left in the fifth for a six-run cushion.

Floyd retired 12 straight batters before giving up a one-out double to Fuld in the sixth. Johnny Damon singled to put men on the corners. Floyd's errant throw on a pickoff attempt allowed Tampa Bay to get on the board. Dan Johnson then grounded out to end the inning.

"Nine games in, bottom line is we need to find a way to win," Rays outfielder B.J. Upton said.

Game Notes

Tampa Bay was 4-3 against the White Sox last season...Floyd has now faced the Rays four times and is 3-1 against them...Joyce had two of Tampa Bay's four hits.