A's Rout White Sox, Win 6th Straight With Help From Moss, Pomeranz
OAKLAND (CBS / AP) -- Brandon Moss homered twice and Drew Pomeranz and three relievers combined on a four-hit shutout as the Oakland Athletics beat the Chicago White Sox 11-0 on Tuesday night for their sixth consecutive win.
Josh Reddick also homered while Yoenis Cespedes added two hits and scored twice to anchor a shuffled Oakland lineup that had catcher John Jaso batting leadoff for just the fourth time this season. Jaso had three hits and scored twice.
Pomeranz (3-1) went five shutout innings in his first start on May 7 and matched that with another stellar five-inning outing against Chicago. The Athletics' left-hander struck out a career-high eight, walked two and gave up just three hits -- all singles.
The White Sox lost their fourth straight.
Oakland improved to 25-15, matching its best record after 40 games since 2003.
The A's won their second straight over the White Sox in much the same fashion they've put together the second-best record in the AL -- strong starting pitching and plenty of offense.
Pomeranz, who replaced Dan Straily in the A's rotation after Straily was optioned to the minors, blanked the White Sox through five innings and allowed only two runners to reach second base. He struck out the side twice and fanned leadoff hitter Marcus Semien three times.
Dan Otero pitched two innings, Fernando Abad worked the eighth and Joe Savery handled the ninth to complete the four-hitter.
Over a six-game stretch that began with Pomeranz's first start, Oakland starters are 5-0 with a 1.13 ERA.
The offense has been just as sharp. The A's matched their season-high with 17 hits and had at least three home runs for the fourth time this season.
Reddick hit a two-run home run as part of the A's four-run fifth while Moss had a two-run shot in the sixth and another two-run homer in the eighth.
Eight of Oakland's nine starters had at least one hit. Reddick, Moss, Cespedes, Jed Lowrie and Craig Gentry had two apiece.
The A's jumped on Chicago starter Scott Carroll (1-3) early then held on behind Pomeranz and the bullpen.
Cespedes hit a two-out single and scored on Moss' RBI-double in the first.
Carroll retired the first two batters in the fourth before Reddick singled, took second on a walk to Alberto Callaspo and scored on Craig Gentry's single to put Oakland up 2-0.
Oakland broke it open with a four-run fifth that included three doubles and Reddick's home run.
Cespedes knocked in Jaso then scored on Derek Norris' hit. A wild pitch from Carroll moved Norris to third before Reddick belted a 2-2 pitch that bounced off the top of the wall in right-center to make it 6-0.
The A's added another run in the sixth on a fielding error by White Sox right fielder Moises Sierra before Moss' home run off reliever Frank Francisco put Oakland up 9-0.
NOTES: 3B Josh Donaldson was given the day off by Oakland manager Bob Melvin. ... A's LHP Eric O'Flaherty threw 25 pitches in the latest step on his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Trainers allowed O'Flaherty to throw breaking balls for the first time since having the surgery. ... RHP Ryan Cook (forearm strain) is pain-free but has yet to resume throwing. ... Chicago LHP Chris Sale, on the disabled list since April 22 with a left flexor strain, will make his first rehab start Thursday for Triple-A Charlotte. ... RHP Andre Rienzo (3-0) starts the series finale for the White Sox in his first career appearance against the Athletics. LHP Tommy Milone (1-3) goes for Oakland.
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