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Danks earns first major league win as White Sox top Twins

May 10, 2007 - 4:41 AM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Twins' struggling offense could not solve the Chicago White Sox's rookie lefthander.

John Danks pitched 6 2/3 strong innings and the White Sox scored four first-inning runs in a 6-3 victory over the Twins on Wednesday.

Paul Konerko showed signs of breaking out of his offensive funk with two hits and a pair of runs scored, and rookie Ryan Sweeney drove in a pair for Chicago, which has won three of four since suffering through a five-game slide.

"I don't think we went into the game thinking let's get (Danks) runs," Konerko said. "I think we needed to score runs no matter who was pitching tonight. We've been struggling to score runs. It was nice that those two things kind of collided, but tonight was a good night. We scored runs. We just have to try to build on it."

Danks (1-4) faced the minimum through the first five innings and yielded just one run and three hits through 6 2/3 to earn his first major league win. The 22-year-old lefthander struck out four and issued three walks.

"Just 299 more and you'll be in the Hall of Fame," manager Ozzie Guillen told a beer-drenched Danks as he walked to the clubhouse.

Danks came into the game having lost his first four decisions of the season despite not having allowed more than four runs in any outing. His run support has been awful all season, as he received just four runs total in his five starts - and no runs on three occasions.

But this time the Sox gave him as many runs in the first inning alone as he's received all season, and a beer shower outside the clubhouse afterward.

"It takes your breath away a little bit; it was cold," Danks said.

He said the win was worth it.

"It's good to get the first one out of the way," Danks sad. "It's been bothering me for a little bit."

The White Sox, who ranked last in the majors in team batting average entering Wednesday's contest (.223), got to Minnesota starter Ramon Ortiz (3-3) early with four runs in the top of the first inning.

Darin Erstad singled to lead off the game and moved to second on Pablo Ozuna's infield hit. After Jermaine Dye popped out to second, Konerko plated Erstad with a double to left.

Konerko entered the game with a batting average that has been hovering around .200 all season. The former All-Star's two hits marked just his seventh multi-hit game of the season and pushed his average above the Mendoza line to .209.

Rob Mackowiak walked to load the bases, but Ortiz got dangerous Joe Crede to pop out to center field, leaving Juan Uribe at the plate with the bases full and two out. Ortiz, however, walked Uribe to force in another run.

Sweeney followed with a two-RBI single to give Danks all the cushion he would need.

"We had to take advantage of that," Guillen said. "Because we might not have scored any more the rest of the game."

Chicago added single runs in the fifth and seventh.

Ortiz exited following the sixth frame, having surrendered five runs and six hits.

"Hits are hits, it doesn't matter where they go," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "It was one of those nights where he didn't get blasted all over the park, but he gave up hits and gave up runs, and runs are what this game is all about. He had pretty decent stuff it looked like, but if you get behind early it makes it tough."

The Twins have failed to score more than four runs in six of their past seven games.

Minnesota threatened in the bottom of the eighth against reliever Mike MacDougal, when Luis Castillo and Nick Punto hit back-to-back two-out singles. Torii Hunter followed with an infield single - extending his hitting streak to 23 games - and made it all the way to third on Uribe's throwing error, which allowed Castillo and Punto to score.

After Michael Cuddyer walked to load the bases, MacDougal was replaced by lefthander Boone Logan, who struck out reigning American League MVP Justin Morneau to end the threat.

"Logan came up really good," Guillen said. "That was the biggest out of the night."

Bobby Jenks walked the first two batters he faced in the ninth inning, but struck out two and held the runners to pick up his 11th save.