White Sox use all of their strengths to muzzle A's
A day after wearing camouflage to celebrate the Fourth of July, the White Sox returned to their traditional home white uniforms Saturday.
They also returned to their winning ways, doing it in much the same fashion that has kept them on top of the American League Central since May 17.
The White Sox snapped a mini two-game slide with a 6-1 win over Oakland in front of 35,586 at U.S. Cellular Field. They maintained their 1-game lead over surging Minnesota.
After that brief skid, the White Sox looked more like their first-place selves, flashing their strengths like ...
*The A.L.'s best home run hitting team. Nick Swisher, who had been hitting .214 against his former team, provided the first long ball. Brian Anderson and Alexei Ramirez followed suit.
*Dominant pitching. Gavin Floyd helped improve the team's 3.42 ERA - second only to Oakland in the majors - shutting out the A's over 7-plus innings for his 10th victory.
* Highlight defensive plays. Take your pick ˆ- Jermaine Dye ending up in the right-field stands after making a shoe-string catch or Floyd himself stabbing a liner to start a 1-3 double play.
* Best bullpen in the league, even without their closer. Matt Thornton and Scott Linebrink closed out Floyd's win, allowing only Ryan Sweeney's solo homer.
It all brought a smile to manager Ozzie Guillen's face. Nothing, besides maybe his native Venezuela's Independence Day on Saturday, made Guillen grin more than another outstanding start in what has been a breakout season for the 25-year-old Floyd.
After improving to 10-4 and lowering his ERA to 3.22, could Floyd wind up on the all-star team when it is announced today?
"He should," Guillen said. "He should have a couple more wins. This kid has been consistent all year. We have a few who deserve (making the all-star team)."
Floyd struck out the side in the first inning. The A's managed just 3 hits, all singles.
"I'm just very thankful things have gone this way so far," Floyd said. "I'm just trying to get better, keep working hard."
Floyd flirted with two no-hitters earlier this season. He credits improved command for his success.
"I'm just trying to throw everything for strikes," Floyd said. "I'm very confident. I want to throw everything for strikes and see what happens."
Swisher staked Floyd to a 1-0 lead with a home run into the left-field bleachers in the second inning.
Anderson blasted a 2-run homer in the fifth. The White Sox are 46-16 this year in games they homer.
"We have a lot of home run hitters on this team," Anderson said. "When guys like me pick one up it's just a bonus."
Orlando Cabrera's 2-run double in the sixth and Ramirez's solo homer in the eighth capped the scoring for the White Sox, who will have to beat A's ace Rich Harden (5-0) today to earn a series split.