White Sox Handle Things on Their Own

The Chicago White Sox didn’t need any help from Chuck Knoblauch this time in New York.

Knoblauch, the Yankee second baseman who committed three errors Thursday, didn’t have one Friday, but the White Sox used the strong pitching of James Baldwin for a 3-1 victory, their fifth in a row.

Baldwin gave up only six hits, including a homer to Scott Brosius in the third, in 7 1/3 innings in becoming the first White Sox pitcher to start the season 10-1 since Joel Horlen in 1967. Baldwin also avenged his only loss.

Knoblauch had two hits and was given a 20-second ovation when he came to bat in the first inning after being booed mightily Thursday in a 12-3 loss.

“I was surprised at how good it was and how supportive it was for Chuck,” said starting pitcher David Cone, who gave up one run in six innings but remained winless in his last eight starts. “It made me proud to be a Yankee.”

Knoblauch’s errors led to two runs Thursday, and after he came off the field following the third one, he summoned Manager Joe Torre into the dugout tunnel, said “I’m tired of hurting this team.” Torre sent him home three innings early, getting somebody to drive him.

Only a pop-up was hit in Knoblauch’s direction Friday.

“Nothing’s changed. It’s not going away,” Knoblauch said. “It probably would have been better if I did get some grounders.”

Oakland 8, Kansas City 3--Ben Grieve hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the seventh inning at Kansas City for the Athletics, whose victory was their 12th in 15 games.

Eric Chavez, Miguel Tejada and Ramon Hernandez hit consecutive homers off Dan Murray in the eighth.

Boston 7, Toronto 4--Carl Everett and Brian Daubach hit successive home runs and Hipolito Pichardo pitched effectively after starter Pete Schourek had a shaky start at Boston.

Schourek gave up two runs in the third inning to cut Boston’s lead to 5-4 and loaded the bases with two out in the fourth.

Pichardo (2-0) came on and struck out Tony Batista to end the inning, then pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

Tampa Bay 9, Texas 2--Jose Guillen tripled, homered and drove in two runs at Tampa Bay for the Devil Rays, who have won eight of their last 11 games.

The Rangers’ losing streak is nine games, matching the longest in the majors this season.

Detroit 5, Cleveland 2--Dave Burba (7-2) gave up four home runs at Detroit and the Indians lost their fifth game in a row.

Bobby Higginson and Juan Gonzalez hit consecutive homers in the third inning, Tony Clark had a two-run blast in the fifth and Dean Palmer hit a solo shot in the seventh for the Tigers.

Minnesota 7, Seattle 2--Cristian Guzman had four hits and three RBIs, and Brad Radke (4-8) allowed four hits and two runs in eight innings for the Twins at Minneapolis.