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CHICAGO(AP) Before the game, Chicago manager
Ozzie Guillen
listed names from his team who he felt deserved to play in the All-Star game. He forgot to mention
Paul Konerko
.
The slugger promptly got Guillen's attention by hitting a career-high three home runs, including a go-ahead grand slam in
the sixth inning, to lead the
White Sox
to a 10-6 victory over the
Cleveland Indians
on Tuesday night.
Konerko, who drove in a career-high seven RBIs, became the 12th player in
White Sox
history to hit three homers in a game.
''I feel bad because earlier I mention a couple of names, but I didn't say
Paul Konerko
. That's embarrassing when you leave (off one) of the most consistent players all year and his name was not there when I mention
the guys that should be there. I don't think that's fair, I apologize to PK,'' said Guillen.
After being selected to his fourth All-Star game Sunday,
White Sox
starter
Mark Buehrle
(9-2) allowed three runs and scattered seven hits in seven innings. He struck out three and allowed just one walk.
For the first time in his career Buehrle will being going to the All-Star without Konerko.
''Three years that I have been in, he's been to all three and this is the first year I'm going without him. I told him I don't
know what to do without him there. He said he's got to cut the cord, said, 'Kid you have to grow up and do your own thing
and go without me,''' said Buehrle.
Alexei Ramirez
added a two-run home run for the
White Sox
in the seventh inning, who have won 15 of their last 21 games.
Trailing 3-1 in the sixth inning, Ramirez doubled with one out off Indians starter
Jeremy Sowers
(2-7) and advanced to third on
Jermaine Dye
's single. Sowers' night ended when he walked
Jim Thome
to load the bases. Then Konerko greeted Indians reliever
Chris Perez
by hitting his second homer of the game on a 2-0 fastball into the left field seats. It was his eighth career grand slam.
''It was one of those days where I didn't feel all that different going into it. It was just having good at-bats and making
good decisions,'' said Konerko. ''The grand slam, obviously got bases loaded and got ahead in the count so you're feeling
good about getting a pitch to drive to the outfield. A good time in the year to do it. A couple of those balls don't go early
in the year and that's what you wait for hopefully in the summer here.''
Later in the inning,
Gordon Beckham
hit an RBI double to center to put Chicago up 6-3.
Indians manager
Eric Wedge
is struggling to find help from his rotation and his bullpen.
''There's never been more opportunity then there is out in the bullpen right now. There's never been more opportunity for
starting pitchers, then we have going right now. Somebody is going to have to step up. We're going to keep trying guys,''
said Wedge.
After getting a loud standing ovation before his at-bat in the seventh, Konerko hit a two-run home run into the
White Sox
bullpen in left for his 16th of the season. He also tagged Sowers for a solo shot in the second inning. Konerko has 24 multi-homer
games in his career.
Jose Valentin
was the last
White Sox
to hit three home runs in a game on July 30, 2003.
Sowers allowed four runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings. He struck out four and walked two.
Grady Sizemore
homered twice and Shin-Soo Choo added a solo shot for Cleveland. Sizemore homered on a 3-1 pitch off Buehrle in the first
inning.
In the fourth inning, Choo doubled and scored on
Travis Hafner
's RBI single.
With two outs in the sixth, Choo hit his 13th homer of the season to center.
Sizemore hit a two-run homer of
White Sox
D.J. Carrasco in the eighth inning for his 13th season
Jamey Carroll
added an RBI single off
Aaron Poreda
in the ninth.
Notes: The
White Sox
made a trade before the game, acquiring reliever
Tony Pena
from the
Arizona Diamondbacks
for minor league infielder Brandon Allen. Pena was 5-3 with a 4.24 ERA in 37 games for the Diamondbacks this season. The
White Sox
designated reliever
Jimmy Gobble
for assignment to make room for Pena. ... Konerko is the third player to hit three homers in a game this season. Angels OF
Torii Hunter
did it on June 13 and Dodgers OF
Andre Ethier
accomplished it on June 26.
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