White Sox Find Relief in Time

Paul Konerko and the Chicago White Sox were glad to see Carlos Zambrano leave.

After the talented and emotional right-hander gave up only one hit in seven shutout innings, he departed after 108 pitches and the White Sox feasted on the Cubs’ erratic bullpen.

Konerko delivered a key two-run single in a four-run eighth Saturday and the White Sox rallied for a 5-3 victory at Wrigley Field.

“We were not disappointed to see him get out of there. He was dealing. And anybody who came in after him was not going to look the same because he was really throwing the ball well,” said Konerko, whose two-out single in the sixth ended Zambrano’s no-hit bid.

With Michael Wuertz (2-2) relieving Zambrano, the White Sox played the kind of baseball they have all season in forging the best record in the majors.

They had infield singles by Scott Podsednik and Aaron Rowand and a stolen base to put runners on the corners.

And then with two out, Konerko hit a sinking liner on a 3-2 pitch, but diving Cub center fielder Corey Patterson couldn’t hold the ball as it hit his glove.

“When I first hit it, I thought it was a for-sure hit. Then as he was running in, I was losing hope,” Konerko said. “He starts to open up his glove and you think he’s going to make that play. More times than not he probably does. You need some good luck.”

And the White Sox have had their share of good fortune. They improved to 31-12.

“I was coming hard and when I got to it, I just took my eye off the ball at the last minute and it kicked away,” Patterson said.

“Right when the crowd started cheering and I hit the ground, I knew I didn’t have it.”

Rowand, running on the pitch, scored to put the White Sox ahead.

Will Ohman replaced Wuertz and gave up a single to A.J. Pierzynski and then a two-run double to Carl Everett.

“We thought [Patterson] had a chance to catch it. I guess that’s what happens when you are playing a club that is hot,” Cub Manager Dusty Baker said.

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Seattle 5, San Diego 3 -- Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson homered on consecutive pitches, leading the Mariners past the Padres at Seattle. San Diego had its eight-game winning streak end.

Eddie Guardado pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save in 12 opportunities.

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San Francisco 3, Oakland 2 -- Ray Durham singled, doubled and hit a sacrifice fly at San Francisco and the Giants evened their series with the Athletics.

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Atlanta 7, Boston 5 -- Kyle Davies (1-0) gave up four hits in five innings and left with a 7-0 lead, then watched as the Braves held on for the victory at Boston to end their losing streak at four games.

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Detroit 3, Arizona 2 -- Marcus Thames’ hit with the bases loaded over a drawn-in outfield completed a two-run rally in the 11th inning at Detroit. Franklyn German (2-0) got the victory despite giving up Koyie Hill’s run-scoring single in the top of the 11th.

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Milwaukee 6, Minnesota 0 -- Doug Davis threw a seven-hitter and Carlos Lee drove in four runs at Minneapolis to spark the Brewers to their second victory in eight games.

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St. Louis 6, Kansas City 5 -- Larry Walker hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning to back Matt Morris (4-0) at Kansas City, Mo. The Cardinals have won seven in a row against the Royals.

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Texas 18, Houston 3 -- Mark Teixeira hit a three-run home run to highlight a club-record, four-homer second inning, and David Dellucci had two of the Rangers’ team-high eight home runs in Texas’ rout at Arlington.

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Toronto 7, Washington 0 -- Roy Halladay (7-2) pitched seven scoreless innings and Eric Hinske hit a two-run homer for the Blue Jays at Toronto.

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Baltimore 7, Philadelphia 0 -- Left-hander Erik Bedard (5-1) pitched five-hit ball over seven innings for his fifth consecutive victory and the Orioles got their fourth shutout at Baltimore.

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Cleveland 5, Cincinnati 3 -- Left-hander C.C. Sabathia (3-3) pitched six innings and hit the first homer of his career. Bob Wickman pitched the ninth at Cincinnati for his 12th save in 14 chances.

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Florida 4, Tampa Bay 3 -- Pinch-hitter Joe Dillon hit his first major league home run in the bottom of the eighth inning at Miami and the Marlins overcame a three-run deficit to defeat the Devil Rays.

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NATIONAL LEAGUE

Pittsburgh 8, Colorado 3 -- Humberto Cota had a three-run double in a five-run second inning against Jason Jennings (1-6) to lead the Pirates at Pittsburgh. Jennings has given up 29 earned runs in his last five starts and has won only once in 17 starts, dating to Aug. 22.

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Philadelphia activated first baseman Jim Thome from the 15-day disabled list before Saturday night’s loss to Baltimore. He has missed 19 games because of a sore back.... Atlanta left-hander Mike Hampton was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained left forearm. The move is retroactive to May 15.