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Six-run fifth powers White Sox in rout of Mariners

Aug 19, 2008 - 4:29 AM By Gene Chamberlain PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Every starter scored a run for the Chicago White Sox on Monday. It only seemed like they all hit home runs to the Seattle Mariners.

Orlando Cabrera, Nick Swisher, Alexei Ramirez and Carlos Quentin each homered to power the White Sox to a 13-5 victory over the Mariners.

With the White Sox trailing, 4-3, in the fifth, Juan Uribe drew a one-out walk before Cabrera reached down on a low changeup from Jarrod Washburn (5-13), sending it just over the fence and into Chicago's bullpen for a two-run shot, his seventh home run and first since June 19.

"In this park, a lot of times balls carry out that wouldn't in other parks," Washburn said.

Jermaine Dye continued the scoring explosion when he followed consecutive singles from A.J. Pierzynski and Quentin with a two-run double. Swisher and Ramirez capped the inning with back-to-back RBI singles, staking the White Sox to a 9-4 advantage.

Ramirez added a three-run blast in the seventh before Quentin belted his major league-best 35th homer in the eighth in support of Mark Buehrle (11-10).

"The offense was great today," Cabrera said. "I was happy to give support to Buehrle with the way he always comes to pitch."

"I don't care if they come with home runs or squeeze bunts or whatever it is," Buehrle said. "Anytime a starting pitcher gets runs, it's nice."

It was the second straight game the White Sox scored 13 runs and hit four home runs. Chicago copied the feat in Sunday's 13-1 rout of Oakland, marking the eighth time this season the majors' most proficient home run-hitting team hit four in a single game.

"We swung the bat well as a group," Guillen said. "I think we got good at-bats. We got big hits when people were on base and we had good at-bats when people were on base also. At least when we hit the home runs, most of the home runs lately, (they are) when people are on base."

Chicago also has reached double-digit runs 14 times this season.

Buehrle lasted 5 2/3 innings, surrendering five runs and 11 hits, including Yuniesky Betancourt's sixth-inning solo home run. The lefthander struck out five and walked two to win his third straight start.

"Last start, I didn't feel too good in the bullpen (in warmups) and came out and pitched well," Buehrle said. "Today I felt pretty good down there and felt loose, but the results weren't there."

Chicago trailed, 3-0, in the first inning after a poor throw to second base by Buehrle on a possible double play opened the way for a two-run, two-out single by Jose Lopez and an RBI double by rookie Wladimir Balentien.

However, Chicago tied it at 3-3 in the second when Dye doubled and scored on Paul Konerko's single. Swisher followed with his 18th home run of the campaign to left-center.