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Floyd, Youkilis lead White Sox over Jays

Jul 8, 2012 - 2:12 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Gavin Floyd pitched into the eighth inning and Kevin Youkilis blasted a two-run homer as the White Sox dropped the Blue Jays, 2-0, in the second of a three-game series.

Floyd (7-8) tossed 7 2/3 scoreless frames, giving up four hits and two walks while striking out three en route to beating Toronto for the first time in his career.

"I'm trying to get in synch, trying to get a good tempo, I'm trying to make pitches" Floyd said. "Maybe I am a little quicker, maybe I should work on that. I try to go as I feel."

"That's the way he pitches," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "To keep you off balance and to get that ground ball when you need to."

Youkilis remained hot for the White Sox, delivering the decisive two-run bomb in the win. In 12 games with Chicago, Youkilis is hitting .311 with three homers and 13 RBI.

"It's hard to say you expect it," Ventura said. "But you like having guys on base and you like tough situations because he continues to find the right pitch and continues to battle."

Ricky Romero (8-4) was a hard-luck loser, giving up just the two runs on four hits and three walks. He struck out two, as the Blue Jays lost their third straight.

"I wasn't in control, and that's what you're looking for," Romero said. "I got in some jams, which I feel I hadn't done that in a long time."

The Jays struggled with the bats, failing to advance a runner past second base and only taking two at-bats with a runner in scoring position.

"We didn't have a whole lot of opportunities and when we did [Floyd] was able to induce a groundball double play on two occasions to shut anything off," Blue Jays manager John Farrell said.

The White Sox threatened Romero in the first and fourth innings, but the left- hander pitched out of a pair of jams. Chicago finally got to him in the fifth inning.

Alexei Ramirez started the inning with a base hit up the middle. After Romero retired Orlando Hudson and Alejandro De Aza, Youkilis clubbed a 1-1 fastball well over the center field fence to give Chicago a 2-0 lead.

Toronto put two men on with one out in the seventh when Edwin Encarnacion and Yunel Escobar singled. But Floyd induced an inning-ending double play off the bat of Rajai Davis to escape the jam.

Matt Thornton picked up a four-out save, striking out two in place of closer Addison Reed, who has pitched in the previous three games. It was Thornton's second save of the season.

With one out in the ninth, Jose Bautista hit a line drive to left field which Dayan Viciedo lost in the sun. However, Bautista tried to reach third base and a strong relay got him for the second out of the inning.

Game Notes

The White Sox have won five straight games and nine of their last 11...Chicago is now a season-high 10 games over .500...Floyd was 0-5 with a 7.26 earned run average in his career against Toronto coming into Saturday's game...White Sox starters own a 1.62 ERA over their last 10 home games...Chicago has won three straight games against opposing lefties...Floyd is 7-0 with a 1.36 ERA in eight starts in which the White Sox win...Romero was previously unbeaten against the White Sox, having gone 3-0 with a 3.62 ERA in four starts against Chicago coming into Saturday's game...The Blue Jays stranded four runners on base and the White Sox went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left five on.