CHICAGO—John Danks kept hitting his target, aloof as he’s been accomplishing all season. The alone atom he absent Sunday was one on the All-Star team.
Danks pitched like he belonged, ambience a career-high with nine strikeouts as the Chicago White Sox handed Rich Harden his aboriginal accident in a year while blind on to exhausted the Oakland Athletics 4-3 for their 10th win in 13 games.
“I absolutely acquainted like we bare a breach in the series,” Danks said.
They got it afterwards the Athletics denticulate a run adjoin Scott Linebrink in the ninth to cull aural one, but Jack Cust flied to appropriate with runners on aboriginal and additional to end the game.
Danks (6-4) took a no-hitter into the sixth as the White Sox salvaged a four-game breach afterwards bottomward the aboriginal two.
He had advice at the bowl and in the acreage from first-time All-Stars Joe Crede and Carlos Quentin while the White Sox congenital a 3-0 lead.
Crede collection in Quentin with a bases-loaded airing in the aboriginal and denticulate on Alexei Ramirez’s distinct during a two-run fourth that fabricated it 3-0. Quentin came through with a leaping bolt at the left-field bank with one out in the sixth to rob Mark Ellis of an extra-base hit afterwards Gregorio Petit led off with a single.
Danks able that jam but couldn’t get out of the seventh.
He accustomed a leadoff bifold to Emil Brown and one-out distinct by Daric Barton afore Rob Bowen collection a two-run bifold bottomward the left-field line. That chased Danks, who larboard to loud acclaim afterwards acceptance four hits and walking two in captivation the adversary to two runs or beneath for the 15th time in 18 starts.
He’ll accept to delay for his aboriginal All-Star invitation, though. Not that he accepted one, with eight no-decisions.
“The wins weren’t there,” he said. “Team wins are there, which is what we’re absolutely focused on.”
The latest win angry into a nailbiter.
Octavio Dotel came in for Danks and addled out Jack Hannahan, but the brawl connected as Petit absolved and Crede misplayed Rajai Davis’ one-hopper to amount the bases. Ellis again ashore to third to end the rally.
The White Sox fabricated it 4-2 in the basal half, back DeWayne Wise led off with a bifold and denticulate on A.J. Pierzynski’s cede fly.
Matt Thornton accustomed a bloop distinct to Wes Bankston but addled out two during a scoreless eighth. With afterpiece Bobby Jenks still nursing anguish beneath his larboard shoulder, the White Sox angry to Linebrink in the ninth and there was added drama.
He accustomed a one-out distinct by Hannahan, and the agitation mounted. Pinch hitter Kurt Suzuki singled off Crede’s cuff with two out, and Mark Ellis collection in Hannahan with a distinct to centermost afore Cust flied out.
“We were appropriate there, one swing,” Oakland administrator Bob Geren said. “I anticipation the brawl that Jack hit was activity to be a home run. I absolutely did.”
Dye bent it about 10 anxiety from the admonishing track, giving Linebrink his aboriginal save in three chances, and the White Sox bankrupt out an 8-2 homestand that included three-game sweeps of the Cubs and Cleveland.
“It’s huge,” Pierzynski said. “We played able-bodied adjoin three appealing acceptable teams. … Oakland’s a acceptable team. They’re not activity to go away. They don’t quit. They’re young. They ability not accept the big names, but they’ve got some acceptable players.”
It was a asperous day for Harden (5-1), who struggled with his ascendancy in his aboriginal accident back aftermost July 7. He accustomed three runs and bristles hits in bristles innings while arresting out four and walking four.
Dominant back healthy, Harden affected from the start.
His problems started back Quentin accomplished on a throwing absurdity by Petit, the shortstop, with two out in the first. Jermaine Dye singled, Jim Thome and Crede absolved to force in the aboriginal run, and the White Sox tacked on two added in the fourth.
“I threw a lot of pitches in that aboriginal inning which absolutely amount me an inning,” Harden said. “It seemed like there were consistently runners on in every inning. I was aloof missing some spots. It was aloof one of those days.”
Notes:@ Dye is one of bristles players on the final vote ballot, and the White Sox ashen no time advancement for him, casual out red, white and dejected signs and T-shirts auspicious admirers to vote for him. RHP Justin Duchscherer was Oakland’s abandoned selection. … OF Carlos Gonzalez absent his additional beeline bold with a bound appropriate hamstring, and the Athletics captivated OF Ryan Sweeney (swollen larboard ankle) out of the lineup. … INF Donnie Murphy, who had abounding in at ambush for the afflicted Bobby Crosby, was out of the starting calendar with anguish in his appropriate elbow.
