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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 11:53 a.m., Sunday, September 28, 2008

MLB: White Sox win 5-1, play makeup Monday vs. Tigers

By RICK GANO
AP Sports Writer

CHICAGO — The White Sox ensured they will play at least one more game.

Mark Buehrle won on three days' rest, Paul Konerko hit his fourth homer in three games and Jermaine Dye had a two-run single to lead the White Sox over the Cleveland Indians 5-1 today, keeping Chicago alive in the AL Central.

The White Sox (87-74), who stopped a five-game losing streak, remained half-game behind division-leading Minnesota (88-74), which beat Kansas City 6-0. Chicago must play a makeup game Monday against Detroit. If the White Sox win that one, Chicago would host a tiebreaker game against the Twins on Tuesday.

Buehrle (15-12), coming off a 121-pitch outing, made his third start on short rest this season and his second in September. He allowed one run and nine hits in seven innings, struck out six and walked one, throwing 111 pitches.

Chicago backed him with four double plays, and Indians third baseman Jamey Carroll made a key error that allowed the go-ahead run to score in a three-run second inning.

Jhonny Peralta's second-inning homer put Cleveland ahead. But Bryan Bullington (0-2), starting because 22-game winner Cliff Lee was scratched with a stiff neck, couldn't hold it.

Konerko's second-inning homer tied it, and Chicago loaded the bases when Ken Griffey Jr. doubled, Alexei Ramirez walked and A.J. Pierzynski singled.

Juan Uribe's grounder was fumbled by Carroll as Griffey scored the go-ahead run, and Orlando Cabrera followed with a sacrifice fly for a 3-1 lead.

After singles by Uribe and Cabrera, Dye delivered a two-out, two-run single in the seventh off Juan Rincon.

Matt Thornton pitched the eighth and Bobby Jenks the ninth, combining for one-hit relief.

Bullington (0-2) gave up three runs — two earned — and five hits in five innings. Cleveland finished a disappointing season at 81-81 after falling to 37-53 after play on July 9.