White Sox Slow Down A’s

The Chicago White Sox, who lost some steam in the second half of the season, show signs of heating up again.

Getting another well-pitched game, this time from starter Mike Sirotka and reliever Bobby Howry, the White Sox downed the Athletics, 8-3, Wednesday at Oakland, to win two of three in the matchup of two of the AL’s highest-scoring teams.

Chicago pitchers gave up only six runs in the three games against the A’s, who have scored 746 runs to a league-high 807 by the White Sox.

“Another good performance by our pitchers; we got real solid efforts back-to-back,” White Sox Manager Jerry Manuel said.

“Sirotka is one of the guys that if he gets hot down the stretch can help us win some games.”

Chicago is only 24-22 since the All-Star break, but remains seven games ahead in the AL Central.

Jose Valentin put Chicago in front with a two-run single in the seventh. Sirotka limited Oakland to two runs and six hits, including a solo homer by Eric Chavez in the fourth inning.

The White Sox scored four times in the ninth to break the game open.

Oakland had closed to 4-3 on Jason Giambi’s RBI double off reliever Kelly Wunsch in the eighth, but Howry replaced Wunsch and retired the next three batters to preserve the lead, then worked the ninth for his sixth save.

New York 5, Seattle 4--David Cone pitched 5 2/3 strong innings and Luis Sojo hit a two-run double at Seattle.

Seattle lost for the 14th time in 17 games, but remained 2 1/2 games ahead of Oakland in the AL West.

Cone (4-11), who endured a career-worst eight-game losing streak this season, was taken out by Manager Joe Torre after giving up a two-out single to Joe Oliver in the sixth. He gave up one run, five hits and four walks, while striking out six. He finished 3-1 in August.

Cleveland 5, Texas 3--Kenny Lofton made up for a two-base error with three hits and three RBIs at Arlington, Texas, as the Indians strengthened their position in the wild-card race.

Dave Burba pitched six strong innings and Roberto Alomar drove in the tiebreaking run with a seventh-inning double for the Indians, who won their third in a row and improved to 18-8 since Aug. 2.

Tampa Bay 3, Boston 1--Albie Lopez gave up only four hits in eight innings as the Devil Rays won at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Lopez (11-9) tied the Devil Ray record of 21 career victories held by current Boston pitcher Rolando Arrojo. The right-hander, who has the AL’s second-lowest ERA at 3.57, struck out six and walked three.

Boston starter Jeff Fassero (8-8), who complained after being pulled in the sixth inning of his last outing Friday at Kansas City, did not make it through the fourth. After the game, Fassero was dropped from the rotation in favor of Pete Schourek.

Baltimore 5, Detroit 1--Jose Mercedes pitched a two-hitter for his first complete game since 1997 as the Orioles sent the Tigers back under .500 at Baltimore.

Kansas City 8, Minnesota 7--Mike Sweeney hit a three-run double to give him 121 RBIs, second most in Royal history, and Kansas City held on to beat the Twins at Kansas City, Mo.

With 30 games left, Sweeney is 12 RBIs short of the club record of 133 set by Hal McRae in 1982.