Ramirez powers Sox’ offense

Alexei Ramirez homered and drove in 5 runs, and the suddenly surging White Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-3 on Sunday.

Ramirez hit a 2-run homer in the first inning, then added an RBI double in the third, a run-scoring single in the fourth and another RBI double in the eighth for the White Sox, who have won 11 of 15.

By taking two of three against the Dodgers over the weekend, the Sox are 5-0-1 in its last six series.

White Sox starter Edwin Jackson (4-5) improved to 2-2 with a 2.84 ERA at home this season. Jackson went 5⅔ innings, allowing 1 run on 5 hits, walking two and striking out seven.

Ramirez matched a career best with 4 hits, the sixth time he has reached that mark. He has driven in 5 runs three times, most recently against Florida on May 21 last season.

Juan Pierre added 3 hits for the Sox. Ramirez, Pierre and Gordon Beckham scored 2 runs apiece, and the White Sox collected at least 10 hits for the fourth straight game.

Matt Thornton pitched 2 innings for his second save.

The beleaguered Dodgers, who have lost seven of nine, got 4 hits from rookie Jerry Sands. All-star outfielder Andre Ethier left with injuries to his back, elbow and toe after crashing into the fence.

Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda (5-4) entered on a roll, with 14⅔ consecutive scoreless innings over his last 2 starts, but the White Sox jumped on him early, scoring 3 runs in the first.

After Pierre led off with a single, Ramirez lined a 1-2 slider into the left-field bullpen for his sixth home run. Later in the inning, A.J. Pierzynski hit his second homer, a solo shot to right that gave the White Sox a 3-0 lead after the first.

Ramirez just missed homering for a second time in the second, driving a flyball to the base of the wall in left-center for a run-scoring double. Beckham, who had singled, scored on Ramirez’s drive, giving the Sox a 4-0 lead.