Uribe carries ChiSox to seventh straight home win

CHICAGO (AP) -- Juan Uribe could be excused for feeling like a forgotten man. He has struggled at the plate and had not played since being reinstated from the disabled list two weeks ago.

He got a chance on Friday and made his case for a few more opportunities.

Uribe tied it with a two-run single and came around to score on A.J. Pierzynski's infield hit in a three-run seventh inning that lifted the Chicago White Sox to a 5-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies and another win at home.

Trailing 4-2 in the seventh, Uribe drove in Jermaine Dye and Nick Swisher with a bases-loaded single and scored from third on Pierzynski's single that hit off a sliding shortstop Omar Quintanilla.

"I'll feel good when I go home tonight," Uribe said. "That's what I can do if they give me a chance to play, help the team."

The win was the ninth straight at U.S. Cellular Field for Chicago, which went 7-0 on its previous homestand before getting swept at Detroit this week. The AL Central leaders pulled this one out just when they seemed headed toward their fourth straight loss.

On a night when the ball was carrying, the teams combined for six solo homers. And Colorado's 4-2 edge in that area looked like it would be the difference.

"I heard when it's hot here the ball can jump every once in a while," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "And we put some good swings on it and you got to like your chances going up 4-2 in the seventh inning."

Ian Stewart hit two solo homers and Willy Tavares and Brad Hawpe added solo drives for Colorado -- the most homers for the Rockies since they hit four against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 19. Those were the only hits Chicago's Gavin Floyd allowed in 6 1-3 innings.

Orlando Cabrera and Brian Anderson hit solo shots for Chicago in the fourth and fifth innings, but Uribe and Pierzynski delivered the big blows in the seventh.

"It's amazing how we found a way to get some big hits," Pierzynski said. "We just couldn't do that against Detroit the last three games."

The White Sox managed just six runs against the Tigers -- one each on Wednesday and Thursday -- but their fortunes changed when Dye led off the seventh with a single and Swisher walked.

Matt Herges (2-3) came in for starter Jeff Francis and walked Joe Crede to load the bases with none out. After Anderson struck out, Uribe tied the score with a single to center.

"It was the right pitch for me," Herges said. "It was just the wrong location, it was elevated. The last thing I want is the ball in the air. I felt confident with it, but left it up."

Uribe, batting .198 when the night began, advanced on Cabrera's forceout and a wild pitch before Pierzynski drove him in with a shot up the middle that Quintanilla knocked down. He then had trouble picking up the ball, and Cabrera beat the flip to second as Uribe scored.

"Thank God for two things -- Uribe went to third on the ball in the dirt and Cabrera was hustling from first," Pierzynski said. "It got us a run, and it got us a 'W."

That made a winner of Matt Thornton (3-1), who struck out the only two batters he faced. Scott Linebrink pitched a perfect eighth before Bobby Jenks came on in the ninth for his 16th save in 19 chances. He retired the first two batters before Hawpe singled. Pinch-runner Scott Podsednik, who helped the White Sox win the World Series in 2005, stole second and took third on catcher Pierzynski's error before Chris Iannetta struck out to end the game.

Game notes
Floyd allowed more than one homer in a game this season for the first time. He Last gave up four homers in a game Sept. 7 against the Twins. ... Podsednik couldn't help but notice the statue honoring the 2005 championship team as he entered the stadium. "That was a memorable year," he said. The catalyst on that team, the White Sox let him go after two injury-riddled seasons, and he's not exactly stirring memories of old with the Rockies. He was batting .222 after a 2-for-29 skid and was not in the lineup on Friday. ... White Sox RHP Esteban Loaiza went on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation, less than two weeks after the former 21-game winner returned to the team. Chicago will send him to the minors in the next few days to build his arm strength and prepare him for long relief and possible spot starts. ... The White Sox swept the only other series between these teams -- a three-game set at Coors Field June 6-8, 2005. They are the only team the Rockies have not defeated. ... White Sox DH Jim Thome missed his second straight game with a stiff back.