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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CHICAGO (AP) – Like most of his teammates on the White Sox, Paul
Konerko had a lousy May. Now that June is here, Konerko and his
team hope their problems are behind them.
|  | | Paul Konerko, center with head down, gets the rough treatment from his teammates after his game-winning homer. |
Konerko hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning and the White
Sox overcame a six-run deficit Sunday to beat the Detroit Tigers
9-6 for their fourth straight victory.
Detroit built a 6-0 lead and its starter, knuckleballer Steve
Sparks, held Chicago hitless into the sixth inning. But the White
Sox rallied with four runs in the eighth and two in the ninth.
"May was bad," said Konerko, who hit just .152 for the month
as the defending AL Central champions stumbled to a 15-29 record on
May 23. "Back in the beginning of the season, when we were losing,
it was just a struggle to win one game. Now we come to the ballpark
expecting to win."
Bob Howry (3-2) got the win in relief for the White Sox, who
have won nine of their last 10 games.
"I think this team has a serious chance of making a run at
this, but we have to stay healthy and fresh," White Sox manager
Jerry Manuel said. "We have been playing good baseball over the
past two weeks."
With two outs in the 10th, Herbert Perry lifted a single to
right, chasing Detroit reliever Todd Jones (2-4). Matt Anderson,
who had not allowed any of his inherited runners to score this
season, was brought in to face Ray Durham and promptly balked Perry
to second. Durham then was walked intentionally.
"I was just hoping Ray would get on. I really wanted to come up
with a chance to do something," Konerko said.
He worked the count to 2-0 before hitting his ninth homer.
Konerko also homered to beat Oakland on April 25.
"Both times I've done it, I've kind of been struggling,"
Konerko said. "I'm still fighting it, going back to basics."
The White Sox completed their second straight three-game sweep
of the Tigers, after a May 25-27 set. The Tigers have lost four
straight and 10 of 11.
"If we have any guts we will come back and win one. If we
don't, we're in for it," said Tigers manager Phil Garner, who was
ejected along with DH Dean Palmer for arguing balls and strikes in
the top of the 10th inning.
Chris Singleton broke up Sparks' no-hit bid with an infield
single with one out in the sixth.
Sparks got in trouble in the eighth, allowing four runs on four
hits. Overall, he walked one and struck out four, giving up five
hits in 7 2-3 innings.
"I didn't try to do anything different in that inning, it was
just some timely hitting," Sparks said.
With the Tigers ahead 6-4 in the ninth, Jones walked Konerko and
pinch-hitter Jose Valentin. Singleton doubled to left, scoring both
runners to send the game to extra innings.
"I have never been more in-between on pitches. I am not making
excuses, I just have to take it like man," said Jones, who blew a
save for the fifth time this season.
The Tigers broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning.
Chicago starter Rocky Biddle hit Deivi Cruz and, with two outs,
Jose Macias lined an RBI double to right over the head of Magglio
Ordonez. Robert Fick's seventh homer of the season made it 3-0.
In the eighth, Damion Easley hit a two-run double and Cruz
followed with an RBI double off reliever Lorenzo Barcelo to
increase Detroit's lead to 6-0.
Game notes
Biddle has not won since April 9. He allowed six hits,
walked two and struck out a career-high six over seven innings. ...
Detroit's Roger Cedeno had to leave in the first inning with back
spasms, the same problem that held him out of Saturday's lineup. He
was replaced by Billy McMillon. ... Tigers OF Bobby Higginson took
batting practice before Sunday's game and reported some tightness
in his rib cage, which he called "expected." Higginson is
scheduled to come off the disabled list Tuesday, but said he might
wait if he feels the same tightness after more batting practice.
... The Tigers have at least one extra-base hit in 42 straight
games. ... Jones recorded his 500th career strikeout, of Sandy
Alomar, in the ninth.
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RECAPS
Cleveland 4
NY Yankees 3
Boston 5
Toronto 4
Chi. White Sox 9
Detroit 6
Minnesota 6
Texas 3
Anaheim 7
Kansas City 2
Oakland 5
Baltimore 1
Seattle 8
Tampa Bay 4
Montreal 10
Philadelphia 3
Atlanta 11
Pittsburgh 7
Atlanta 8
Pittsburgh 3
(2nd game)
Milwaukee 4
Chicago Cubs 2
Los Angeles 9
Houston 8
Colorado 11
San Francisco 2
Florida 1
NY Mets 0
Arizona 8
San Diego 4
St. Louis 4
Cincinnati 3
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