Chicago, IL (Sports Network) – Gavin Floyd allowed just one run in seven strong innings, and Carlos Quentin blasted two home runs, as the Chicago White Sox routed the Angels, 9-2, in the first of four games at U.S. Cellular Field.
Floyd (4-7) allowed two or fewer runs for the sixth consecutive start, giving up just five hits and two walks while fanning four for the White Sox, who have been red-hot in winning 15 of 19 overall. Quentin notched his eighth career multi-homer game and second of the season, while Alexei Ramirez and Dayan Viciedo also homered in the win.
“(The run support) helps,” Floyd said. “You don’t try to think about that out there. You try to commit the pitches and do your job. When you get some run support, you feel a lot better — everybody relaxes a little bit.”
Sergio Santos recorded his first career save.
Howie Kendrick went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Angels, who have lost three of four. Scott Kazmir (7-8) lost his third consecutive start after yielding seven runs on six hits and five walks in 6 1/3 frames.
“I thought we hung in there and got back into the game, and for awhile Scott settled down and was throwing good strikes with good stuff,” said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. “It got away from him a little bit at the end.”
The White Sox wasted no time taking the lead, as Ramirez blasted a homer to left with one out in the first inning.
Chicago increased its lead in the second. Andruw Jones walked, stole second with two outs and scored on Brent Lillibridge’s single to center.
The Angels cracked the scoreboard in the sixth on Bobby Abreu’s RBI groundout, but the hosts answered in the home half with three runs — one on an RBI single from Paul Konerko and two on a home run from Quentin. All three runs came with two outs to provide a 5-1 advantage.
Kazmir was lifted after giving up a solo shot to Viciedo — the first of his career — and walks to Lillibridge and Juan Pierre in the seventh. Rich Thompson came on and allowed an RBI single to Ramirez.
The Angels recorded their second run on a Kendrick RBI single in the eighth off Bobby Jenks, and LA eventually loaded the bases with two outs for Mike Napoli with a chance to get back into the game. Santos, however, came in from the bullpen and recorded the strikeout to get out of the jam.
Quentin’s leadoff blast in the eighth and Viciedo’s eventual RBI single in the same inning sealed Chicago’s victory.
The White Sox are 8-1 in their last nine home games…The Angels still lead the season series, 2-1…Chicago had scored just 10 total runs in Floyd’s last five combined starts before Monday. In his excellent six-start stretch, he has a record of only 2-1.