White Sox Sweep Away Indians, 7-1

Todd Ritchie got his first victory with the White Sox and Paul Konerko and Kenny Lofton homered Thursday night as Chicago defeated the Cleveland Indians, 7-1, to complete a three-game sweep at Chicago.

The Indians, who went to Chicago with a 10-game winning streak, were outscored, 24-8, in the series.

Ritchie (1-1), acquired in an off-season trade from the Pirates, gave up six hits and one run in seven innings, for his first American League victory since he was a reliever with the Twins in 1997.

Konerko hit a solo homer in the second and Lofton continued a tear against his former team, leading off the third with his first homer for the White Sox, who have won eight of nine.

Lofton also drove in Chicago’s first of three runs in the seventh with a fielder’s choice grounder and then raced from first to third when Bartolo Colon (3-1) made a wild pickoff throw for his second error of the inning.

New York 8, Baltimore 4--Shane Spencer, trying to prove he deserves to play every day, hit a three-run homer that sent David Wells and the Yankees over the Orioles at New York.

Benched recently after a slow start, Spencer returned to the starting lineup and reached base in all four plate appearances. Spencer’s homer off Scott Erickson (1-2) put the Yankees ahead, 5-4, in the fourth inning. He also doubled and walked twice.

Wells (3-0) defeated Baltimore for the second time this season. He pitched eight innings and gave up all four runs in the fourth, three on Jeff Conine’s homer.

Tampa Bay 6, Detroit 4--Former Tiger Chris Gomez homered and drove in four runs as the Devil Rays ended the Tigers’ two-game winning streak with a victory at Detroit.

After becoming the fifth team since 1900 to start a season 0-11, Detroit won the first two games of the series against Tampa Bay.

Minnesota 4, Kansas City 1--Eric Milton mastered the Royals again and Torii Hunter hit his fifth home run to give the Twins the victory at Minneapolis. Milton (3-1) gave up one run and four hits in 72/3 innings, striking out four and walking none. He’s 11-2 against the Royals in his career.