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Tuesday, May 9 7:05pm ET
Baldwin stops White Sox losing streak | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
BOSTON (AP) -- James Baldwin demonstrated his importance to the Chicago White Sox by shutting out Boston on Tuesday night, and when he returned to his locker he saw that the effort was appreciated. "The stopper with class. Book it," someone had written on a photo of Baldwin and taped above his locker in Fenway Park's visiting clubhouse. Baldwin pitched a three-hitter for his first career shutout, snapping Chicago's four-game losing streak with a 6-0 victory over the Red Sox. The win was his sixth straight to open the season, tying him with New York's Jeff Nelson for the best record in the American League. "J.B. has saved us a number of times," White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said. "Any time we get in a little slide, he's been the one to stop it." Baldwin struck out eight and walked one to post the longest winning streak of his career and the best start for a White Sox pitcher since Wilson Alvarez went 8-0 to begin the 1994 season. It was his first complete game since last May 29. "Hopefully, it won't be my last shutout," said Baldwin, who pumped his arms when Andy Sheets grounded into a double play to end the game. "It felt good to get that out of the way. And now that I've got it, I've got some more things to work on." Pete Schourek (1-3) allowed six runs -- three earned -- on seven hits, striking out four and walking two in 6 1/3 innings. He also had a wild pitch in Chicago's three-run sixth and a throwing error as the White Sox scored three unearned runs in the seventh. Chicago led 3-0 when Herbert Perry singled to lead off the seventh, and Josh Paul tried to bunt him to second. Schourek fielded the ball in front of the mound and threw the ball to first, but second baseman Jose Offerman was late in covering and ball went into right field. "I had to hesitate with the throw, and I threw it without looking," Schourek said. "I just figured he was there." After Ray Durham sacrificed the runners to second and third, Craig Wilson grounded one past third baseman Wilton Veras for another error. Wilson and Paul combined for a double-steal, and Frank Thomas was intentionally walked to load the bases. Magglio Ordonez hit a two-run single to make it 6-0. Baldwin, who had been 0-2 with a 16.36 ERA in Fenway Park in his career, has had a history of bad first halves. In the previous two seasons, he was 7-12 with a 6.88 ERA over the first half and 18-7 with a 3.61 ERA after the break. Durham singled to lead off the sixth, took second on Wilson's sacrifice bunt and, after Thomas was intentionally walked, scored on Paul Konerko's single to make it 1-0. Schourek threw a wild pitch to put runners on second and third, then Carlos Lee singled to give Chicago a 3-0 lead. Game notesPaul and Wilson each picked up their first stolen base of the season on the double-steal in the seventh. Paul's was the first of his career. ... The Red Sox have thrown out just 6 of 30 baserunners attempting to steal. ... Chicago LHP Jim Parque served the final game of his three-game suspension for his role in an on-field brawl April 22 against Detroit. The other six White Sox suspended already have completed serving their penalties. ... The White Sox lost seven of eight during the suspensions after starting the season 17-7. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Chi. White Sox Clubhouse Boston Clubhouse RECAPS Chi. White Sox 6 Boston 0
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