Konerko HR lifts White Sox over Braves

CHICAGO - Paul Konerko homered with two outs in the eighth inning Thursday, lifting the Chicago White Sox to their ninth straight victory, 2-0 over the Atlanta Braves.

Gavin Floyd, J.J. Putz and Bobby Jenks combined on a two-hitter for the White Sox, who have their longest winning streak since 2006 and have won 13 of their last 14 games.

The Braves came into the series with five consecutive wins and a 34-14 record over the previous seven weeks but were handed their first sweep since April.

Takashi Saito (1-3) relieved Derek Lowe to begin the eighth and gave up a leadoff single to Juan Pierre. After a sacrifice and a flyout, Konerko lined the first pitch he saw into the left-field bleachers.

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