By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Chicago, IL

Paul Konerko hit his 400th homer in a White Sox uniform and Chicago completed a three-game home sweep of the Cleveland Indians with a 12-6 win at US Cellular Field.

Konerko's homer placed him alongside Frank Thomas as the only players in franchise history to produce 400 homers while wearing the White Sox uniform.

He hit his first seven career home runs donning Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds uniforms before joining the White Sox in 1999.

The first baseman finished the game with two hits, extending his hitting streak to 13 games and helping the White Sox to their first five-game winning streak of the season. Konerko also homered five times and batted in 14 runs in the last 10 games.

By winning nine of their last 10 games, the White Sox (26-22) have moved half-a-game behind the leading Indians (26-21) in the American League Central.

The Indians, who have lost three straight for only the second time this season, gave up 35 runs to the White Sox in the three-game series. It was the first time the Indians surrendered that many runs since allowing 35 against the Minnesota Twins from June 4-6, 2002.

Chicago's early onslaught ended Ubaldo Jimenez's (4-5) stint after just four innings, allowing seven hits and earning seven runs. He also walked four and gave up Konerko's three-run shot in the fourth.

The White Sox scored three runs in the first before veteran Johnny Damon connected with a three-run shot that tied the count at 3 in the second inning.

Chicago grabbed the lead in the third with an RBI single from Alexei Ramirez before Konerko connected with a three-run shot from a 2-2 hanging slider by Jimenez.

Orlando Hudson's two-run triple and Alejandro De Aza RBI triple gave the White Sox a 10-4 lead after scoring three in the fifth.

The run support was enough for Chicago to survive another rough outing from Gavin Floyd (4-5), who earned the win despite yielding five runs - all earned - from 10 hits in five innings.

 

Konerko Hits 400th Homer for White Sox