Seattle, WA (Sports Network) – Alex Rios clubbed a two-run homer and added a sacrifice fly, as the Chicago White Sox defeated Seattle, 6-1, in the opener of a three-game series at Safeco Field.
Omar Vizquel went 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI for the American League Central-leading White Sox, who had won nine a row before dropping the final three of a four-game series at Minnesota.
Chicago now has a 2 1/2-game lead over the Twins and Tigers in the division standings after both those teams lost Monday.
Making his second start in place of the injured Jake Peavy, Daniel Hudson (1-0) gave up one run on five hits, walked four and struck out six over 6 2/3 innings to get the win.
Seattle starter David Pauley (0-2) allowed three runs on eight hits over six full frames. The light-hitting Mariners, who left the bases loaded in the fourth and seventh innings, are a woeful 3-13 thus far in July.
The White Sox threatened in the first inning, stringing together three straight one-out singles, but Vizquel was thrown out at home attempting to score on a base hit by Paul Konerko.
Seattle took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by the returning Russell Branyan, who sat out the previous series against the Angels because of an injured toe. Branyan would exit later in the game with back stiffness.
Rios’ sac fly tied the game in the third and followed a one-out walk to Vizquel in the fifth with his 100th career home run.
Chicago increased its lead against reliever Jamey Wright. Vizquel recorded an RBI groundout in the seventh and Andruw Jones hit a solo home run in the next inning to make it 5-1.
Alexei Ramirez stroked a two-out single in the eighth, stole second, advanced to third on catcher Rob Johnson’s throwing error and came home on a Gordon Beckham double.
Seattle is 9-46 when scoring three runs or less…The White Sox swept a three- game set from the Mariners in Chicago from April 23-25…The Mariners opened a seven-game homestand.