Rios leads the way

L.A.'s Scioscia plays game under protest; Rios' second HR gives Chicago an 8-6 win

Nam Y. Huh / AP

Chicago's Alex Rios, right, smiles as he celebrates with teammates after hitting?a two-run home run to beat Los Angeles in the 10th inning on Friday night. He also had a solo home run earlier in the game.

Associated Press Sports

updated 1:31 a.m. ET Aug. 4, 2012

CHICAGO - With so many players on the Chicago White Sox having stellar seasons, Alex Rios can tend to go a bit unnoticed.

In reality, he might be having the biggest season of them all.

Rios hit his second homer of the game, connecting for a two-run shot in the 10th inning Friday night that lifted the White Sox over the Los Angeles Angels 8-6.

"He's very underestimated, very undervalued for a lot of people," manager Robin Ventura said. "But for us he's been as solid as anybody in the league."

Rios also hit a solo homer as the White Sox won their third in a row. The Angels lost their third straight, with starter Zack Greinke roughed up in his second start since being acquired from Milwaukee.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia played the game under protest after a baserunning call went against his team in the first inning.

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Adam Dunn singled off Hisanori Takahashi (0-3) to open the 10th. Pinch runner Jordan Danks stole second with one out before Rios hit his 18th home run.

Rios raised his average to .318 and he has 67 RBIs, a welcome change from when he hit .227 with 13 homers and 44 RBIs in 145 games last season.

"After last year, what he went through, him and (Dunn), you never want to see anybody struggle like that," said A.J. Pierzynski, who also homered for the White Sox. "For him to bounce back, I couldn't be happier for a guy."

"It's nice to see him get the results he deserves," he said.

Matt Thornton (4-6) pitched a scoreless 10th for the win.

Pierzynski's three-run homer highlighted a four-run first for Chicago. It was his career-high 19th home run, one more than he hit in 2005.

"I guess I just got too fastball happy and I got myself in trouble with Pierzynski," Greinke said. "I didn't think he would be able to do that with that pitch. It was kind of where I wanted, maybe not perfect, but I was really surprised he was able to hit it as far as he did."

Greinke allowed six runs and 10 hits over seven innings.

Albert Pujols hit his fifth home run in four games for the Angels. Mike Trout also connected for Los Angeles.

Alejandro De Aza doubled home Alexei Ramirez in the seventh to make it 6-all. De Aza and Ramirez had three hits apiece.

Scioscia argued a call in the first and then played the game under protest.

With the bases loaded and no outs, Paul Konerko hit a grounder to third base. After getting the out at home, catcher Chris Iannetta threw wide to first, pulling Pujols off the bag.

Scioscia contended that Konerko was not within the base line for the last 45 feet. The umpires convened and upheld the safe call, bringing Scioscia back out for another discussion. After a second umpire meeting, Konerko was still ruled safe, prompting Scioscia's decision to play under protest.

"What took place there was a play at home and the catcher came out and threw to first," crew Chief Dana DeMuth told a pool reporter after the game. "He threw wild. Konerko going down to first was no way interfering with the play at first."

The play loomed large as Pierzynski homered with two outs.

"We're filing with the league and I think it's a very clear case in our favor," Scioscia said. "(Konerko) was inside the line, which it makes it virtually impossible for him not to affect the throw from Iannetta trying to make the throw to first base."

Trout hit a two-run homer, his 19th, in the second. Pujols hit his 23rd in the sixth, a solo drive that chased a struggling Phil Humber.

Notes: The White Sox sent RHP Chris Devenski to Houston as the player to be named to complete the July 21 trade for RHP Brett Myers. ... Chicago signed OF Dewayne Wise to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Charlotte. Wise was released by the Yankees on July 31. He is renowned in White Sox lore for a remarkable ninth-inning catch to preserve Mark Buehrle's perfect game in 2009. ... Ervin Santana (5-10, 5.97 ERA) will start Saturday for the Angels against Gavin Floyd (8-9, 4.28). ... White Sox manager Robin Ventura announced LHP Chris Sale (arm fatigue) will pitch Monday. Sale last pitched July 27 in Texas. ... Angels RHP Dan Haren will pitch on Sunday. Haren was scratched from his Wednesday start due to back stiffness.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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