Updated on
Summary The Mets lost their fourth in a row, dropping to 4-19 in their last 23 games at Citi Field.
A.J. Pierzynski hit back-to-back homers in the sixth inning as the Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 6-1 Monday to increase their American League Central lead to three games.The White Sox, who had lost seven straight to Detroit, managed just two hits against Rick Porcello (9-12) and were 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position when an error on second baseman Omar Infante gave them an opening.Infante muffed Dewayne Wises easy, one-out grounder in the sixth. Paul Konerko singled to left to put runners at the corners and Rios lined a pitch over the wall in left-center for his 23rd homer. Pierzynski followed with his 26th to center field for a 4-1 lead, ending Porcellos night and sending him to his sixth straight loss. Gordon Beckham added a two-run shot in the eighth off Octavio Dotel.Joe Quintana (6-4), who was 1-3 in his previous 10 starts, allowed one run and seven hits in 7 2-3 innings.The Mets were eliminated from the National League East race after Washingtons Gio Gonzalez earned his major league-leading 19th victory in a 5-1 at New York.Kurt Suzuki put the NL East-leading Nationals ahead with a home run right after catcher Kelly Shoppach dropped his foul popup for an error. Ryan Zimmerman launched a two-run shot later in the third inning and Ian Desmond added a two-run drive in the fourth. Scott Hairston homered in the fourth.The Mets lost their fourth in a row, dropping to 4-19 in their last 23 games at Citi Field. They tied a team record by scoring three or fewer runs for the 11th straight game at home, matching the mark last done in 1979.Milwaukee improved its chances of a NL wild card into the playoffs after Norichika Aoki hit a two-run double to key a four-run seventh inning as the Brewers rallied to beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1.The Brewers sent 10 batters to the plate in the seventh but did all their damage with two hits and a sacrifice fly to end the Braves five-game winning streak.In other NL games the Philadelphia Phillies downed the Miami Marlins 3-1, the Cincinnati Reds edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 over 14 innings, the Chicago Cubs thrashed the Houston Astros 4-1 and the Colorado Rockies defeated the San Francisco Giants 6-5.In the AL, the Minnesota Twins trounced the Cleveland Indians 7-2 and the Oakland Athletics beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-1.
