Sun Jul 6 17:57:05 2008

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Wise helps White Sox get series split with A's

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Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Dewayne Wise was 2-for-2 with a double, a run scored and an RBI as the Chicago White Sox used another strong effort from John Danks to earn a split in a four-game series against the Oakland Athletics with a 4-3 win.

Danks (6-4) allowed just four hits and two walks to go with a career-high nine strikeouts in a two-run, 6 1/3-inning performance for Chicago. Danks was snubbed from the All-Star team despite surrendering two earned runs or less in 15 of his 18 starts this season.

Joe Crede scored and recorded an RBI on the day he was named to his first All- Star team, as the White Sox finished off their 10-game homestand at 8-2.

Rich Harden (5-1) was saddled with his first loss of the season after giving up three runs -- two earned -- in his five-inning start. The Oakland ace was credited with five hits, four walks and four strikeouts. Rob Bowen had a two- run double for the A's, who have dropped four of six.

A two-out rally in the home first started with shortstop Gregorio Petit`s throwing gaffe. The error put a runner on first, and a Jermaine Dye single and Jim Thome walk loaded the bases. Harden walked Crede on a payoff pitch to bring in the game's first run, but kept the damage to a minimum by getting Nick Swisher to pop out deep to right.

A walk in both the second and third inning were the only blemishes on Danks' outing through five.

Meanwhile, the Chicago offense made it a three-run game in the fourth. With a pair on, Alexei Ramirez chased a high, 0-2 fastball but smacked it into center field for an RBI single. Wise followed with a sacrifice fly to center, and Swisher crossed home for a 3-0 edge.

Petit recorded the A's first hit with a leadoff single in the sixth, but it wasn't until the seventh that the A's made some noise.

Emil Brown doubled to lead off the frame and Daric Barton recorded a one-out single to put runners on the corners for Bowen, who looped a double down the left field line to score both runners. Danks was removed from the game and Octavio Dotel loaded the bases before getting Mark Ellis on an inning-ending ground out to third.

Wise doubled to start the seventh, moved up 90 feet on Orlando Cabrera's groundout, and scored a much-needed insurance run on A.J. Pierzynski's sacrifice fly to left.

Chicago's Matt Thornton pitched a scoreless eighth, and with closer Bobby Jenks nursing a sore back, Scott Linebrink was called upon to close out the game in the ninth.

It wasn't pretty, but after Mark Ellis' base hit scored Jack Hannahan to make it a one-run game, Linebrink induced a towering Jack Cust flyout to right to end the game with the tying run on second base, securing his first save of the season.

Game Notes

Starting Monday, the A's host Seattle for a four-game series, while the White Sox get a day off before heading the Kansas City for three games...The A's are just 4-8 in their last 12 games at U.S. Cellular Field...Oakland stranded nine runners, while Chicago left five on base...Chicago outfielder Carlos Quentin joins teammate Crede on the All-Star team, while Oakland starter Justin Duchscherer is the A's lone representative...Dye is among five finalists to be voted on by fans for the last spot on the Midsummer Classic roster.