Konerko helps White Sox sweep Boston
Chicago White Sox's Adam Dunn, left, welcomes teammate Paul Konerko at home plate after Konerko hit a two-run home run off a pitch by Boston Red Sox's Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 1, 2011, at Fenway Park in Boston. The White Sox defeated the Red Sox 7-4. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Credit: AP Photo/Steven Senne
Fenway is a friendly park to the Sox -- the White Sox.
Chicago won its seventh consecutive game at the 99-year-old home of the Boston Red Sox as Paul Konerko hit a go-ahead single in the seventh inning and a two-run homer in the ninth in a 7-4 victory Wednesday that completed a three-game series sweep.
"Playing three games here is not the same as playing in a lot of stadiums," Konerko said after the 660th straight sellout at Fenway, watched the Red Sox waste a 3-0 lead after two innings. "There's an energy you get that you don't get other places. So that is a help if you use it right."
Rangers 3, Rays 0: Colby Lewis (5-5) scattered four hits in eight innings and Elvis Andrus had two RBIs as visiting Texas took two of three from Tampa Bay.
Orioles 2, Mariners 1: Adam Jones had three hits against his former team, including the go-ahead homer into the upper deck in the eighth inning for visiting Baltimore. The Orioles' Brian Matusz lasted 5 2/3 innings in his season debut (he had been out with an intercostal strain). He allowed one run and four hits and struck out three.
Royals 2, Angels 0: Billy Butler hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning for host Kansas City. Jeff Francoeur singled with one out before Butler connected off Scott Downs (3-2). The ball hit behind the outfield padding in left-centerfield and bounced back into play, and the umpires ruled it a double before video showed it to be a home run.
Nationals 2, Phillies 1: Laynce Nix hit a home run and made a spectacular diving catch, helping starter John Lannan beat Philadelphia for the first time in 14 tries for host Washington.
Lannan (3-5) entered the game 0-10 with a 6.44 ERA against the Phillies. Lannan (Chaminade) pitched into the sixth inning, allowing just an unearned run and four hits for his first victory in eight starts.
Astros 3, Cubs 1: Brett Myers (2-4) outdueled Doug Davis (0-4) and Michael Bourn hit a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh as visiting Houston finished off a three-game sweep. Myers won his sixth straight decision against Chicago, improving to 12-3 with a 2.12 ERA in his career against the Astros' NL Central rivals. -- AP
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