CHICAGO — Torii Hunter hit a two-run homer and Joe Saunders pitched 7 2/3 strong innings to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.
Hunter hit his third home run in three games and Saunders (3-5) allowed just one run and four hits to help the Angels bounce back after losing consecutive games to the Texas Rangers.
Saunders, who snapping a three-game losing streak with his second career shutout in a 4-0 win over Oakland on Friday, struck out four and walked two.
Fernando Rodney got one out in the eighth and Brian Fuentes survived a shaky performance in the ninth for his fifth save in seven opportunities.
Paul Konerko led off the ninth with a home run for Chicago, and A.J. Pierzynski singled with one out. Omar Vizquel ran for Pierzynski and advanced to second on a passed ball with two outs. However, Fuentes finally recovered to strike out Alexei Ramirez to end the game.
The White Sox wasted another strong outing from John Danks (3-3), who allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits. He struck out eight and walked two.
Chicago has totaled four runs while losing Danks' last three starts. He gave up three runs in seven innings of a 3-2 loss at Minnesota on May 12.
The White Sox have not won back-to-back games since a three-game sweep of the Mariners on April 23-25.
Before the game, general manager Ken Williams met with the White Sox. He says he can't remember the last time he felt the need to address the club. Chicago is 16-23 and trails AL Central-leading Minnesota by 7 1/2 games.
Williams says he hasn't had any conversations about replacing manager Ozzie Guillen or changing the coaching staff.
Williams, in his ninth season as GM, has always been adamant letting his players and coaching staff know where they stand.
"Yes, I am impatient. Yes, I am frustrated," he said. "But yes, I do remain confident that this team is the one that can still challenge for the division championship. And hopefully beyond. We have a lot of good pieces. We just need it to come together. And we'll be just fine."
Danks gave up a two-out walk to Bobby Abreu in the fourth inning and Hunter followed with a two-run shot to left. It was the Angels' first hit of the game and Hunter's seventh homer of the season.
The next hit for the Angels didn't come until Juan Rivera singled with one out in the eighth. Mike Napoli followed with another single. With two outs and runners on first and second, White Sox third baseman Jayson Nix booted Erick Aybar's grounder. Nix still thought he had a shot at the force at second and rushed an errant throw that ended up in right field. Rivera scored from second and Nix was charged with two errors on the play.
The White Sox failed to score in the sixth inning, despite having runners at second and third with one out. Andruw Jones popped out to second base and Alex Rios hit a shallow fly out to left.
Chicago's first run came in the second inning. Konerko opened with a single, moved to third on Pierzynski's double with one out and scored on Carlos Quentin's sacrifice fly. Saunders rebounded by retiring the next 10 batters he faced.
Notes
White Sox RHP Jake Peavy will start on Thursday against the Angels and LHP Mark Buehrle will start Friday against the Florida Marlins. Buehrle was scheduled to start on Wednesday but Monday's rainout in Detroit backed up the starters one day. The White Sox want to break up their two left-handed starters, Danks and Buehrle. … Konerko hit his 14th home run.