A's snap Sox' streak

Even though White Sox pitcher Javier Vazquez produced a quality start, going the distance with 10 strikeouts, the South Siders' offense failed to produce much past the first inning.

The White Sox started off hot, but cooled much like the temperature at U.S. Cellular Field as the night went on, and the Oakland Athletics and starter Justin Duchscherer beat the Sox 3-2 Thursday. The loss snapped a 7-game winning streak.

Coming into the game, Duchscherer led the league in ERA. Both runs he gave up in the first inning were earned.

Leadoff man DeWayne Wise ignited the White Sox (49-36) with his first career leadoff home run, which was followed by an A.J. Pierzynski double. Pierzynski advanced to third on a Carlos Quentin sacrifice fly and eventually scored on Jermaine Dye's RBI double.

In the meantime, Vazquez dominated the first three innings on the mound. He was perfect through two outs in the fourth, when he hit Kurt Suzuki with a pitch. Right after that, Jack Cust hit a home run and the game was tied at 2-2.

All the A's (46-39) needed after that was Donnie Murphy's solo home run in the fifth.

Vazquez dropped to 7-7, but White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said it was one of his better outings.

"Awesome game by Javi," Guillen said. "Hopefully, this outing will carry over until the end of the season."

"I wouldn't change any pitch," Vazquez added. "The first home run was a cutter and the second was a fastball ... I felt good all day."

"It's a shame for Javi because he pitched so good, but that's baseball," said Pierzynski. "It was a good start, and we needed that out of him."

A's closer Huston Street finished the game and earned his 16th save of the season. Street entered with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning and finished with 3 strikeouts, including the final two of the game. The Sox left Pablo Ozuna, Joe Crede's pinch runner after he singled, stranded.

"We thought we had our chances, but (Street) is one of the better (closers) in baseball," Pierzynski said, "He made the pitches when he had to."

Duchscherer improved to 9-5 after throwing 7 innings with 5 hits 2 walks and 4 strikeouts.

"(Duchscherer) settled down and found ways to get us out after (the first inning)," Wise said.

"Pitching is the name of the game, and they have good pitching," Guillen added.

The Sox have three more chances at the A's, as Oakland is in town until Sunday.