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Bullpen holds as White Sox nip D-Rays

Jun 26, 2007 - 4:16 AM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- The Chicago White Sox finally figured out how to win a one-run game and Andy Gonzalez discovered how to snap out of a slump - play the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Gonzalez had a career-high four hits and two RBI as the White Sox stopped a five-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory at Tampa Bay on Monday.

The win also snapped Chicago's six-game losing streak in one-run contests. The White Sox's last one-run victory was also a 5-4 decision against the Devil Rays on May 25 in Chicago.

"Gonzalez has been playing great, he's been getting good at bats," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "It was good for him. Now he should feel more comfortable."

Gonzalez entered the contest in a 3-for-19 slump and only 6-for-33 this season, but collected hits in his first four at-bats. The rookie shortstop had two singles before adding an RBI double in the fourth and an RBI single in the sixth.

"It was more luck," said Gonzalez, who said his last four-hit game came in the minors. "I got three knocks that I was jammed. Once I got the first two hits, I got my confidence back."

Gonzalez's sixth-inning single pulled the White Sox even with the Devil Rays at 4-4. Two batters later, Paul Konerko's RBI single gave the White Sox a 5-4 lead.

Tampa Bay, which leads the majors in come-from-behind victories, scored single runs in the first two innings only to watch the White Sox take a 3-2 lead in the fourth on Gonzalez's double and a run-scoring single by Jim Thome.

The Devil Rays responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning on Jonny Gomes' sixth home run of the season and Josh Wilson's sacrifice fly.

Starter John Danks (4-6) and four White Sox relievers held the Devil Rays scoreless in the final five innings. Danks allowed four runs and four hits, walked four and struck out three.

"I didn't have that good of stuff, but I was able to make some decent pitches," Danks said. "It wasn't pretty. I don't care as long as we get the win.

"Our bullpen did a good job. I guess I was the weak link today."

Bobby Jenks pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 19th save. The burly righthander had gotten knocked around in his last two appearances, but was perfect against the Devil Rays.

"That's what we look for out of our relievers," Guillen said. "We have the people to do it. They did a tremendous job. Hopefully they can keep it up."

Tampa Bay's J.P. Howell was pulled following the fifth inning after throwing 111 pitches. He left with a 4-3 lead, but the White Sox regained the lead against Casey Fossum (5-7), who surrendered three hits and two runs in one-third inning.

"I think I was just battling," Howell said. "I wasn't missing by that much. It was a lot of pitches, too many pitches early. I've just got to get that strike zone early."

The White Sox, who had won only five of their previous 27 games, out-hit the Devil Rays, 12-5. Wilson knocked in two of Tampa Bay's four runs.

"It was a really intense game," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "We did a lot of things well. They made pitches when they had to. We had some hard hit balls that they caught. They did a nice job out of the pen."

Tampa Bay pitchers struck out 15 batters. The Devils Rays have a promotion that earns fans a free pizza if they strike out at least 10.

"If we played here a lot, there would be more fat people here eating pizza for free," Guillen said.