Braves fall to the streaking White Sox

CHICAGO - It's a matter of time, as far as the White Sox are concerned.

"The way we're pitching right now, we expect to win right now," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "We're not hoping anymore."

The Sox vaulted to a 2-0 victory over the Braves when Paul Konerko's two-run two-out homer in the eighth inning made a winner of reliever J.J. Putz after another fine outing from Gavin Floyd.

Thanks to a starting rotation that has posted a 2.03 ERA in its past 15 games, the Sox have a season-high nine-game winning streak entering the start of Friday's three-game home series against the rival Cubs.

The Sox (37-34) overcame a solid pitching performance from Atlanta's Derek Lowe thanks to a combination of clutch pitching, timely hitting and dependable defense.

Those components have helped the Sox trim seven games off their American League Central deficit in 15 days so the Twins lead now is only 2 ½ games.

The Sox show no signs of letting up against their intercity rivals this weekend as Guillen said he didn't feel sorry for Cubs counterpart Lou Piniella.

"He's making $4 million, almost $5 million," Guillen said. "Nobody felt bad for me when we were struggling. Don't take me wrong; I love that man. I really do. I love the general manager (Jim Hendry). It's not easy when you go through this. I know how hard it is.

"But do I feel bad? They're not in my division. I wish it was Detroit or Minnesota."

The only regret the Sox had was not getting any run support for Floyd, who is 0-1 with a 0.93 ERA in his last four starts after seven scoreless innings.

"You can't control that kind of stuff," said Floyd, who struck out nine and retired 14 consecutive batters at one point. "Stay positive and thankful that I'm back on my feet. I'm looking to keep on going."

Konerko, meanwhile, continued a surge reminiscent of his 2005 season, when he last entered the final year of his contract. Konerko ripped the first pitch from reliever Takashi Saito into the left-field seats with two outs after Pierre led off with a single and moved to second on Alexei Ramirez's bunt.

"I just wanted to be ready in case (Saito) wanted to get ahead with a heater," Konerko said. "And that's what happened."

Konerko isn't taking anything for granted against the struggling Cubs, though the Sox took two of three at Wrigley Field two weekends ago.

"Like they say, a wounded animal is dangerous," Konerko said. "But I really think in that series you throw everything out the window. It doesn't matter what a team has done up to that series.

"It's hard to explain, but there's just a different feel in those games. You don't get that against any other team, whether it's the Red Sox, Yankees, it doesn't matter."

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