Podsednik powers White Sox

Chicago improves to 12-4 for franchise's best 16-game start since 1935

? The Chicago White Sox are playing so well, they’re convinced someone is going to come through with a big play every day.

It was Scott Podsednik’s turn Thursday.

Podsednik hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the seventh inning, and the White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers, 4-3, for their fourth straight win.

“Every game, somebody’s a hero,” Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said. “We’re not the type of team that is going to lean on one guy, and if he doesn’t hit, we are done. Everybody is doing their job.”

Chicago’s 12-4 record matches the 1935 team White Sox for the franchise best after 16 games. The White Sox have won the first two games of all six series this season.

“We’re going to go though a stretch where we hit a bump in the road and not do as well as we can,” Mark Buehrle said. “That’s what is going to tell if we are a good team or a bad team.”

With Chicago trailing 3-1 in the sixth, Paul Konerko hit a bad-hop, run-scoring single over shortstop Carlos Guillen’s glove.

“How can you account for something like that?” Tigers manager Alan Trammell asked. “The ball just hit a pothole or spike mark and bounced over his head.”

A.J. Pierzynski and Joe Crede singled in the seventh, then moved up on Juan Uribe’s sacrifice bunt. Trammell chose to play the percentages, pulling an obviously frustrated Jeremy Bonderman for left-hander Jamie Walker.

Chicago's Scott Podsednik follows through on a go-ahead single. The White Sox defeated Detroit, 4-0, Thursday in Detroit.

“I definitely didn’t want to come out,” Bonderman said. “I felt fine.”

Podsednik then grounded a single just past second baseman Omar Infante.

“I was just looking for Pod to put the ball in play in that situation,” Ozzie Guillen said. “He had a good at-bat. We struggle at times, but we get big hits.”

Detroit put its first two runners on in the eighth against Dustin Hermanson, but Ivan Rodriguez flied out and Dmitri Young grounded into his second inning-ending double play of the day.

“I stunk today,” Young said. “I was pathetic.”

Mark Buehrle (3-1) gave up three runs and six hits in seven innings with four strikeouts.

Yankees 4, Blue Jays 3

Toronto — Mike Mussina won for the first time this season as New York beat Toronto. Mussina (1-1) allowed three runs and 10 hits in 51/3 innings, striking out five and walking one. Mariano Rivera allowed two runners in the ninth but gained his third save in five chances. Bernie Williams had two hits and an RBI for the Yankees.

Devil Rays 3, Rangers 2

St. Petersburg, Fla. — Dewon Brazelton snapped his seven-game losing streak, and Carl Crawford had a tiebreaking groundout in Tampa Bay’s victory over Texas.

Athletics 3, Mariners 0

Seattle — Rich Harden pitched seven innings to run his scoreless string to 15 and Oakland received a two-run homer from Mark Kotsay in a victory over Seattle. The 23-year-old Harden (2-0), moved up in the A’s rotation after the offseason trades of Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder, allowed five hits and two walks and struck out eight in his third start of the season.

Red Sox 1, Orioles 0

Baltimore — Matt Clement scattered eight hits over eight innings, and Boston beat Rodrigo Lopez and Baltimore to complete a two-game sweep. Kevin Millar scored the game’s only run in the second inning after a throwing error by shortstop Miguel Tejada.

Angels 6, Indians 5, (10)

Anaheim, Calif. — Orlando Cabrera homered leading off the bottom of the 10th inning to cap the Angels’ rally from a 5-0 deficit.

Cabrera hit a 3-1 pitch into the lower seats in the left field corner against Jason Davis (1-1), the seventh Cleveland pitcher.

Francisco Rodriguez (1-0) pitched a perfect 10th inning for the victory.