Padres Defeat White Sox 4-2
CHICAGO (AP) — Will Venable had a season-high four hits and drove in two runs to help the San Diego Padres beat the Chicago White Sox 4-2 on Saturday.
Tyson Ross (6-4) limited the White Sox to two runs — one earned — on five hits in six innings, and Huston Street remained perfect in 17 save chances this season.
San Diego improved to 20-4 this season when scoring four or more runs.
In the third series between the two teams — and the first since 2005 — the Padres had the leadoff hitter reach base in seven of the nine innings. The White Sox managed only one base runner in the final four innings.
White Sox starting pitcher Andre Rienzo (4-2) struggled to keep the Padres off base and consistently ran into trouble. Rienzo lasted only 3 1-3 innings, surrendering three runs on seven hits.
Twice the White Sox cut the Padres' lead to one run, but they could never pull closer.
Dayan Viciedo's two-out double to right-center field scored Adam Eaton, who reached on an error by shortstop Everth Cabrera to start the fifth, to cut the Padres' lead to 3-2. San Diego answered in the top of the sixth, extending its lead, 4-2. Alexi Amarista's sacrifice fly scored Venable, who reached on a double and advanced on a sacrifice bunt.
Paul Konerko's single in the second snapped an 0 for 12 stretch and put runners on the corners for the White Sox after Alexei Ramirez led off the inning with a single. The White Sox cut San Diego's lead to 2-1 on the next play, though Alejandro De Aza's double play ball, which scored Ramirez, killed Chicago's rally.
San Diego had chances to put Chicago away. Despite loading the bases with nobody out against Rienzo, the Padres only managed to score one run in the third. Center fielder Eaton delivered a perfect throw home on Venable's RBI single to nail Carlos Quentin at the plate, keeping San Diego's lead to 3-1.
The Padres took a 2-0 lead in the second scoring on RBI doubles from Venable and Rene Rivera. Padres center fielder Cameron Maybin left the game with right calf tightness after reaching second base on a fielder's choice in the Padres' two-run second inning.
A diving catch by right fielder Chris Denorfia to end the fourth on Tyler Flowers' line drive saved at least one Chicago run from scoring, stranding runners on first and second to maintain a 3-1 Padres lead.
NOTES: White Sox 1B Jose Abreu took approximately 10 at-bats during a hitting simulation before Saturday's game. Abreu was hit above his left elbow but finished the simulation. Abreu (osterior tibia tendonitis in his left ankle) will go through another simulation game Sunday. He can be activated from the 15-day disabled list on Monday. "(Abreu) will have to take pitches and I think that's going to be the biggest thing is just reaction-wise," manager Robin Ventura said. "Him seeing pitches and not having send him out on a rehab assignment." ... DH Konerko (back) returned to the White Sox's lineup Saturday after missing the last two games. ... Padres manager Bud Black decided to give struggling 2B Jedd Gyorko the day off, inserting Amarista in the lineup. Gyorko is 3 for 17 on San Diego's road trip and is batting .169 this season. "You've got to use your roster and I think today is a good day to give Jedd off from a start," Black said. "He's been going at it hard and we've been playing him a lot. Jedd will be in there tomorrow."
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