Blame it on Rios
SEATTLE - Alex Rios hit a go-ahead, two-run home run and had three RBIs as the first-place Chicago White Sox rebounded from perhaps their toughest defeat of the season to beat the Seattle Mariners 6-1 on Monday night, ending a three-game losing streak.
The White Sox triumphantly answered manager Ozzie Guillen's curiosity of how they'd respond to Sunday, when they blew a three-run lead in ninth inning of a 7-6 loss at Minnesota.
Daniel Hudson (1-0) struck out a career-high six while allowing five hits and one run in 6 2/3 innings. It was the longest outing and second win of the 23-year-old's four-start career. Andruw Jones, subbing in right field while Carlos Quentin rested his bruised thumb, homered ahead of Gordon Beckham's RBI double in the eighth inning, and Chicago increased its lead in the AL Central to a season-high 2 1/2 games over the Tigers and Twins.
Detroit lost in extra innings at home to AL West-leading Texas while Minnesota lost big at home to Cleveland.
The Mariners lost for the 13th time in 16 games. They are 21 games under .500, equaling their season low.
With the game tied at 1 and Omar Vizquel on base thanks to a walk with one out in the fifth, Rios leaned back on his heels and then powered David Pauley's 2-1 pitch into the bleachers beyond left field. Rios' 16th homer of the season was the 100th of the seven-year veteran's career.
The 27-year-old Pauley (0-2) allowed eight hits and three runs in six innings. It was his seventh career start and second this season as the fill-in for Cliff Lee, the ace that Seattle traded last week to the Rangers in a white-flag statement on this lost season.
Chicago Seattle
ab r h bi ab r h bi
Pierre lf 5 1 1 0 ISuzuki rf 5 0 1 0
Vizquel 3b 4 1 2 1 Figgins 2b 2 1 1 0
Rios cf 4 1 2 3 Branyn dh 2 0 1 1
Konerk 1b 5 0 2 0 Ktchm dh 2 0 0 0
Kotsay dh 4 0 0 0 JoLopz 3b 4 0 0 0
AnJons rf 4 1 1 1 FGtrrz cf 4 0 0 0
Przyns c 4 0 1 0 Bradly lf 4 0 2 0
AlRmrz ss 4 1 1 0 Smoak 1b 4 0 2 0
Bckhm 2b 4 1 2 1 RJhnsn c 2 0 0 0
J.Bard ph-c 1 0 0 0
JaWlsn ss 3 0 1 0
Totals 38 6 12 6 Totals 33 1 8 1
Chicago 001 020 120 - 6
Seattle 100 000 000 - 1
E-Al.Ramirez (11), Figgins (11), Ro.Johnson (4). DP-Chicago 2. LOB-Chicago 7, Seattle 10. 2B-Beckham (15), Branyan (12). HR-Rios (16), An.Jones (13). SB-Pierre (34), Vizquel (3), Al.Ramirez (4). CS-Ja.Wilson (2). SF-Rios.
IP H R ER BB SO
Chicago
D.Hudson W,1-0 6 2/3 5 1 1 4 6
Thornton H,15 1/3 1 0 0 1 1
T.Pena 1 2 0 0 0 1
Linebrink 1 0 0 0 0 1
Seattle
Pauley L,0-2 6 8 3 3 1 4
J.Wright 2 4 3 2 0 0
Olson 1 0 0 0 0 1
Umpires-Home, Jeff Nelson; First, Mark Carlson; Second, Alan Porter; Third, Jeff Kellogg. T-2:45. A-21,749 (47,878).