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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, September 6, 2009

Floyd propels White Sox


Associated Press

CHICAGO — Gavin Floyd had taken no-hit bids deep into games before, so he knew what to expect.

He had another one going yesterday — a perfect game, in fact — against one of the best teams in the AL, the Boston Red Sox. After retiring his first 17 batters, Floyd gave up a two-out single in the sixth inning to Nick Green.

"You're aware of it, but in the sixth inning there is still a lot of game to go. You just try to focus on the pitches and let things happen," Floyd said. "If it happens, it happens. If not, you just put it behind you."

Floyd finished by allowing three hits and a run in eight innings with a career-high 11 strikeouts, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 5-1 win over the Red Sox.

"Coaches and managers always worry when you are throwing a no-hitter and all of a sudden someone gets a hit. A lot of people go down after that," Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said. "The next guy was out and this guy (Floyd) was cruising."

Floyd (11-9), who had no walks, lost his shutout in the eighth when Jason Bay led off with his 31st homer to make it 4-1.

Chicago's Mark Kotsay homered for the second consecutive day against his former team and Paul Konerko added a solo shot in the eighth to finish with three RBIs.

ANGELS 2, ROYALS 1:

Erick Aybar had three hits, including a tiebreaking RBI single in the 11th for visiting Los Angeles. Aybar's single off Yasuhiko Yabuta (0-1) scored Torii Hunter, who led off the 11th with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. After Juan Rivera walked with one out, Aybar stroked a run-scoring single to right.

TIGERS 8, RAYS 6:

Pinch-hitter Marcus Thames came through with a tiebreaking single during a two-run eighth inning and Alex Avila hit a two-run homer for visiting Detroit. Detroit, which overcame a three-run deficit, went ahead 8-6 when Thames hit a bases-loaded single and Adam Everett drove in a run with a sacrifice bunt.

ORIOLES 5, RANGERS 4:

Melvin Mora homered and drove in three runs, rookie Brian Matusz (4-2) earned his third straight win and host Baltimore beat Texas. Mora hit a solo homer in the second inning, a two-out RBI single in the third and snapped a 4-all tie with a two-out single in the fifth. Matusz allowed four runs in seven innings.

YANKEES 6, BLUE JAYS 4:

Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano homered, and Andy Pettitte won his fourth straight start for visiting New York. Pettitte (13-6) extended his unbeaten streak to eight starts despite not making it past the sixth inning in this one.

TWINS 4, INDIANS 1:

Scott Baker won his seventh straight decision and extended his mastery of visiting Cleveland. Baker (13-7), who gave up one run in six innings, is 4-0 with a 0.93 ERA in four starts against Cleveland this season.

ATHLETICS 9, MARINERS 5:

Cliff Pennington hit a two-run homer to help host Oakland beat Seattle. Mark Ellis had three hits and drove in two runs for the A's and Daric Barton added a two-run double.