 Kouzmanoff, Braden help A's stop streaking White Sox
2010-08-01 01:19:00
Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Kevin Kouzmanoff finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle and Dallas Braden tossed a complete game to lead Oakland to a 6-2 victory over Chicago in the second installment of a three-game set. Kouzmanoff went 3-for-5 and scored three times while Daric Barton added a pair of hits and drove in two runs to help the Athletics snap a two-game slide.
Braden (6-7) permitted eight hits, walked one and struck out five to win his second consecutive start -- both against Chicago -- after going nine straight turns without a win following his perfect game for Oakland, which snapped the White Sox's 12-game home winning streak.
John Danks (11-8) suffered the loss after allowing five runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out eight in 6 2/3 innings for Chicago, which also had a five-game overall win streak halted.
"I expect to win every game, but I know that's not going to happen," said Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen. "Hopefully we can come back and put together another winning streak here."
Kouzmanoff started the second inning with a single, moved to second base on an Adam Rosales base hit and scored when Rajai Davis singled to right field. Mark Ellis walked to load the bases for Matt Carson, who roped a single to left to plate Rosales.
Coco Crisp struck out before Barton lined a single to right field to chase home two runs to extend the visitors' lead to 4-0.
Kouzmanoff led off the third with a home run to straightaway center to push the lead to five.
Braden held the Sox to two hits over the first five frames before Juan Pierre and Alexei Ramirez opened the sixth with back-to-back singles. The southpaw got out of trouble by retiring Alex Rios and Paul Konerko on fly outs and Carlos Quentin on a fielder's choice grounder.
Barton's ground rule double with two outs in the seventh spelled the end of the night for Danks. Tony Pena came on to end the inning.
Chicago's only runs came in the seventh when Dayan Viciedo singled with one out and scored when Andruw Jones followed with a homer.
Oakland loaded the bases with one out in the eighth and got a sacrifice fly from Ellis to push their advantage to 6-2.
Viciedo doubled with one out in the ninth, but Braden retired Jones and Gordon Beckham to end the game and sew up his third route-going performance of the season.
Game Notes
Oakland has won 10 of its last 15 road games, while the Sox fell for only a second time in their last 21 home games...The A's are 8-10 in Braden's starts. Kouzmanoff has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games, while Davis extended his hitting streak to six games...Jones' long ball was the 403rd of his career... Danks suffered his first career defeat to Oakland in six starts. He is 4-1 against the A's...Oakland was 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position while the Sox were 0-for-8 with RISP and stranded seven...Oakland leads the season series, 3-2.
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