Nix, Floyd pace White Sox past Oakland Athletics

Posted August 14, 2009 11:00 pm

Mike McGraw

Jayson Nix began the onslaught with the ninth home run of his career, then Jim Thome finished it with his 563rd.

Gavin Floyd pitched 7 strong innings on the mound and the White Sox rolled past Oakland 8-1 on Saturday afternoon. The Sox won at the Coliseum for the second straight day after going 8-28 in Oakland since 2001.

They have a chance for their first three-game road sweep of the A's since 1997 when the series wraps up today.

"For the last four years, we've come in here and haven't played very well at all," Thome told reporters after the game. "So, yeah, it would be great to get a sweep. A sweep would be special for sure."

Thome's 22nd home run of the season tied him with Reggie Jackson for 12th on the all-time list. Jackson is often associated with the Yankees these days, but he became a star with the A's in the early 1970s.

"Every time this guy hits a home run, it's history," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "One thing about Jimmy is he's really humble. If it was me, I guarantee you everybody in the stadium would know I (tied) Reggie Jackson."

Thome said he got a chance to chat with Jackson just a few weeks ago when the Yankees visited U.S. Cellular Field.

"Reggie is very energetic, and any time you talk with him, you just soak it all in," Thome said. "That's how the conversation kind of went."

Thome needs 6 more homers to catch Rafael Palmeiro for 11th on the all-time list, 10 to match Harmon Killebrew.

Nix hit a 2-run shot in the third to give the Sox an early lead. Gordon Beckham added a double, 2 hits and 2 RBI. Jermaine Dye and A.J. Pierzynski also had 2 hits each.

Floyd (10-7) struck out eight and scattered 8 hits. Something about the sunshine seems to help his cause. Floyd improved to 15-4 in day games since 2006.

"It's big for me to get a tempo," Floyd said. "I struggled with that in the bullpen, but eventually I did get a nice tempo going and I felt like things were in the right place."

Losing pitcher Gio Gonzalez (4-3) had been on a roll, going 3-0 with a 1.46 ERA in his last 4 starts, including wins over the Yankees and Rangers. On Saturday, he walked six in 5 innings.

A's reliever Edgar Gonzalez served up Thome's home run, the first he'd allowed in 451/3 innings pitched this season.

The White Sox announced pitcher Freddy Garcia will be called up from Triple A Charlotte to start Tuesday's home game against Kansas City. A key starter on the 2005 World Series team, the Sox traded Garcia to Philadelphia following the 2006 season - ironically for Saturday's starting pitchers, Floyd and Gio Gonzalez.

Garcia, 34, owns a 118-77 career record, but had shoulder problems and went just 2-6 for the Phillies and Tigers since being traded by the White Sox. After being released by the Mets in April, the Sox re-signed him in June.

"Freddy and me are close," Guillen said. "I talked to him and told him this is not spring training for him. He has to come ready for the challenge. He texted me, 'I'm ready to roll.'"

Mike McGraw's game tracker White Sox 8, A's 1 East Bay excellence: Gavin Floyd struck out eight in 7 innings as the White Sox won in Oakland for the second straight day. The Sox had gone 8-28 at the Coliseum since 2001. Thome meets Reggie: Jim Thome slugged his 563rd career home run in the ninth inning, tying former A's great Reggie Jackson for 12th on the all-time list. Nix' bat clicks: Second baseman Jayson Nix got the Sox on the board with a 2-run homer in the third inning. Third baseman Gordon Beckham contributed a double, 2 hits and 2 RBI.

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