White Sox Put a Broom to Yankees, 17-4

The Chicago White Sox proved again why they have the best record in the major leagues.

Jose Valentin’s grand slam highlighted a nine-run first inning as the White Sox extended their season-high win streak to seven games with a 17-4 rout of the New York Yankees on Sunday.

Valentin and Carlos Lee each had four runs batted in as the White Sox tied a team record with their 11th consecutive road victory and completed a four-game sweep of the Yankees.

It also finished a difficult trip in which Chicago went 7-0 against Cleveland and New York.

“In my time here, I haven’t witnessed anything quite like what we did on this trip, especially against the teams we did it against,” White Sox Manager Jerry Manuel said.

Jim Parque (7-2) gave up four runs, nine hits, struck out four and walked three in six innings for the White Sox, who improved to 44-24. They became the first visitors to score at least 17 runs at Yankee Stadium since Cleveland on Aug. 4, 1990.

“Let everyone think that we’re not that good,” Parque said. “They might be thinking that in October. I don’t think this team cares, and I don’t think we’ve really reached our potential as a team.”

The first-inning outburst came against Orlando Hernandez (6-6), who yielded nine runs in his worst outing of the season. He lasted only two-thirds of an inning, threw 49 pitches, gave up six hits and walked three.

Hernandez was taken to a hospital for precautionary X-rays on his right elbow after complaining of some minor pain after the game.

It was the most runs Chicago scored in an opening inning since a nine-run first in a 10-3 victory at Minnesota on April 19, 1962.

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Road to 11

Since losing at Houston, 6-1, on June 3, the White Sox have won 11 consecutive road games. A look:

* June 4: at Houston, 7-3

* June 5: at Cincinnati, 4-3

* June 6: at Cincinnati, 17-12

* June 7: at Cincinnati, 6-4

* June 12: at Cleveland, 8-7

* June 13: at Cleveland, 4-3

* June 14: at Cleveland, 11-4

* June 15: at N.Y. Yankees, 12-3

* June 16: at N.Y. Yankees, 3-1

* June 17: at N.Y. Yankees, 10-9

* June 18: at N.Y. Yankees, 17-4

Average runs scored: 9

Average runs allowed: 4.8