Chicago, IL (Sports Network) – Alex Rios homered and finished with two RBI, as the Chicago White Sox edged the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 4-1, in the continuation of a four-game series.
Chicago starting pitcher Jake Peavy left the game in the second inning with a strained back -- more specifically a strained latissimus dorsi muscle -- and will be re-evaluated on Wednesday. Tony Pena (2-1) replaced Peavy and pitched 4 1/3 solid relief innings, allowing one run on five hits. Andruw Jones also homered for the White Sox, who have won three straight games.
Mike Napoli drove in the only run for the Angels, who dropped Monday's series opener and have now lost four of their last five games overall.
Jered Weaver (8-4) suffered the loss after he allowed four runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings pitched.
The start of the game was delayed by 1 hour, 41 minutes due to rain.
A sacrifice fly by Rios in the bottom of the first inning started the scoring. Juan Pierre laced a leadoff double and stole third before a fly ball to left field by Rios allowed Pierre to tag-up for the 1-0 lead.
The Angels knotted the contest in the fourth. Torii Hunter singled and moved to second when Hideki Matsuiwalked before he came around to score on a base hit by Napoli.
With one out in the home sixth, Rios belted his 14th home run of the season, a solo blast over the wall in left field and the Sox led, 2-1.
In the seventh, Jones' 11th homer of 2010 gave the hosts a two-run cushion. The Sox then added another insurance run later in the inning on Pierre's RBI single, which scored Dayan Viciedo.
J.J. Putz pitched a perfect seventh, Matt Thornton successfully worked around a pair of singles in the eighth and closer Bobby Jenks entered for the ninth. Jenks yielded a one-out single to Napoli, but got Juan Rivera to ground out and then struck out pinch-hitter Paul McAnulty to earn his 18th save of the campaign.
Despite the loss, the Angels outhit the Sox, 9-8...Hunter ended with three hits...Rios has 47 RBI this season...Putz has a 1.69 ERA this season...White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin missed the game due to a sore left knee.