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Sox' offense in high gear, beat Dodgers 5-4

Since they won the World Series in 2005, probably even a few seasons before that, the White Sox have been a team that has relied on good pitching for good results.

The Sox are going good so far this year, but they are looking more and more like the 2000 team that went to the playoffs on the strength of the offense.

“We have a lot of good hitters on this team,” Gordon Beckham said last week. “It's just a matter of the top of the lineup getting on base and letting the big boys drive us in. And we've gotten the bottom of the lineup going, too.

“When everything is going with this team, we have the chance to do some great things.”

The Sox' offense was in high gear again during Saturday night's game against the Dodgers.

The White Sox held on for a 5-4 victory.

The Sox scored 6 runs in Friday night's series opener against L.A., but starter Chris Sale had a rare poor outing and reliever Matt Thornton couldn't protect a 6-6 tie in the eighth inning as the White Sox lost by a run.

It was another wasted offensive effort, which included 2 home runs by Alex Rios and Adam Dunn's 23rd of the season.

Heading into Saturday's game, the Sox' offense was producing much like the 2000 team that featured Frank Thomas, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Lee and a young first baseman named Paul Konerko.

That team powered its way into the playoffs with the bats, and this year's White Sox headed into Saturday's game on quite an offensive roll.

Since May 14, the Sox led the majors in runs scored, home runs, and batting average with runners in scoring position.

Against the Dodgers Saturday, Philip Humber had another poor outing. The right-hander lasted just 5 innings and allowed 4 runs on 9 hits.

But much like Sale Friday, the White Sox' offense picked up the slack.

In the first inning, Alexei Ramirez gave the Sox the early lead with a 2-run single off Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley.

In the second, Humber helped his cause with an RBI single.

The White Sox took a 4-0 lead in the third inning when Alex Rios hit a run-scoring triple. On Friday, Rios hit a pair of solo home runs.

Humber (3-4) did work 5 innings to earn the victory, as Addison Reed pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his eighth save.

sgregor@dailyherald.com

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