TORONTO (MCT) — The last time the White Sox had a winning record at what is now Rogers Centre was in 2005.
Of course, that was also the year they won the World Series.
While it may have no connections, the 2012 first-place White Sox just finished with three victories in four games against the Blue Jays after a 7-2 triumph Thursday night.
Manager Robin Ventura couldn’t give any definitive answer, this being his first year with the Sox. Not that he wasn’t very well aware of it.
“Apparently this is very meaningful because there are a lot of guys who are giddy,” Ventura said. “It’s a tough place to play. It’s a good team. It’s not easy to come up here and win games.
“I don’t know whether they’re shocked, but they’re overly happy. A.J. (Pierzynski) was bouncing in (my office) scratching his head. This has been a house of horrors for him.”
The Sox had lost 15 of 18 here before this year and Pierzynski admitted “I have no idea why.”
The Sox don’t need an answer now, not after tying their season high with five home runs, one night after hitting three. Their lead over the Tigers in the American League Central is now 21/2 games.
The recipient of the instant offense was Francisco Liriano, who won his first game in four tries with the White Sox and his first game, period, since July 6.
“Got the first one out of the way and just want to go out every five days and help to win a game,” Liriano said. “It has been kind of up and down the last month. I felt pretty good tonight. Location-wise this was a good night.”
Liriano retired 13 straight batters from the second through the sixth innings, but walked the leadoff hitter in the seventh before Jesse Crain finished the frame and then let Brett Myers and Philip Humber finish up the game.
Dewayne Wise got the Sox on the board with a homer in the third inning, his second in two nights. While he is viewed as a fourth outfielder, Wise started Wednesday in left field and Thursday in center field as Ventura rested regulars.
“I know what my role is,” Wise said. “... Be ready whenever I’m in the lineup.”
Dayan Viciedo and Tyler Flowers then had homers in the fifth to give Liriano a 3-2 lead.
For Viciedo, it was his third homer in the last seven games, compared to two in his previous 33.
For Flowers, it was his second homer in 10 games.
Through seven innings the Sox had only three hits, all of them homers.
The Sox opened the flood gates in the eighth with a three-run homer from former Blue Jay Alex Rios, who still is booed before every at-bat here, and a solo shot from Alexei Ramirez.
“It’s no different than any other homer,” Rios said. “It’s just another game, another team we have to play. That’s the way I feel.”
