White Sox Can't Shut Down Former Teammate Buehrle
TORONTO (AP) —Mark Buehrle pitched in and out of trouble into the seventh inning to beat his former team , J.P. Arencibia and Maicer Izturis hit solo homers and the Toronto Blue Jays topped the Chicago White Sox 4-3 on Monday night.
Arencibia went deep in the first and Izturis connected to begin the second as the Blue Jays opened a seven-game homestand with their third victory in four games.
Buehrle (1-0) went 6 1-3 innings in his first career start against the White Sox, allowing two runs and nine hits. The left-hander walked two and struck out three.
A four-time All-Star during his 12 seasons with the White Sox from 2000-11, Buehrle starred for Chicago's 2005 World Series championship team, pitched a no-hitter in 2007 and perfect game in 2009.
Esmil Rogers pitched one hitless inning of relief before the White Sox rallied in the eighth against Aaron Loup. Adam Dunn was hit by a pitch, went to third on Dayan Viciedo's double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Alexei Ramirez. Loup struck out Tyler Flowers to preserve the one-run lead.
Casey Janssen finished for his fourth save in as many chances.
Right-hander Gavin Floyd (0-3) remained winless as the slumping White Sox lost for the sixth time in seven games.
Chicago jumped on Buehrle with two in the first as Paul Konerko and Viciedo hit RBI singles.
Toronto quickly tied it in the bottom half when Emilio Bonifacio led off with a double, advanced on a passed ball and scored on Melky Cabrera's sacrifice fly. Arencibia followed with a homer that bounced off the top of the wall in right center, his fourth.
Izturis made it 3-2 with a leadoff drive to right in the bottom of the second, his second, and the Blue Jays tacked on one more in the fourth when Munenori Kawasaki tripled to the gap in left-center and scored on Bonifacio's sacrifice fly.
The White Sox put runners at the corners with two out in the fifth but Buehrle escaped by fanning Konerko.
Toronto chased Floyd in the bottom half, loading the bases with one out on a single and a pair of walks. Hector Santiago came on and got Izturis to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Floyd allowed four runs and nine hits in 4 1-3 innings. He walked three and struck out six.
Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista was held out of the starting lineup with a sore back.
NOTES: A moment of silence was held before the game to honor those affected by the bombings in Boston. ... Players on both teams wore uniform number 42 in tribute to Jackie Robinson. ... Blue Jays SS Jose Reyes visited a specialist Monday who confirmed that he won't need surgery on his sprained left ankle. Reyes is expected to miss three months. ... Toronto selected RHP Ramon Ortiz from Triple-A Buffalo and designated OF Casper Wells for assignment. ... Promoted from Triple-A Charlotte Sunday, White Sox infielder Tyler Greene made his season debut at second base.
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