Burnett's outing topped by Humber in Yankees' loss

NEW YORK – A.J. Burnett was humming along with his best start of the year. Too bad Phil Humber was a bit better.

Burnett pitched eight dominant innings, but Humber held New York hitless into the seventh and the Chicago White Sox beat the Yankees 2-0 Monday to end a three-game skid.

"You come across guys who are on," Burnett said. "He threw a heck of a game and didn't miss many spots. You just have to do the best you can."

Burnett gave up a run on three hits and two walks in his first eight-inning outing since a 1-0 loss at Kansas City on Aug. 15. His longest appearance this season had been 6 1-3 innings on April 13.

"I'm glad I was able to go deeper in the game," Burnett said. "I just need to get consistency and keep working because I've got a long way to go."

The hard-luck loss was his first defeat in 15 April starts with the Yankees. He had been 8-0 with New York in April.

Humber didn't allow a hit until Alex Rodriguez grounded a single up the middle with one out in the seventh.

The White Sox won for only the second time in 12 games. Chicago snapped a 23-inning scoreless drought in the fourth when Carlos Quentin doubled and scored on Adam Dunn's grounder, and added a run in the ninth after a popup fell behind the mound — in front of charging shortstop Derek Jeter.

"It was just one of those in-betweeners," Yankees catcher Russell Martin said. "It sort of landed in a dead zone."

Sergio Santos got four outs for his first save and Chicago's second in eight chances this season. He gave the White Sox a scare, allowing a leadoff single to Curtis Granderson before Mark Teixeira hit into a double play. Rodriguez struck out to end the three-hitter.

Manager Ozzie Guillen said some of the White Sox's problems could be attributed to the quality of pitching they were facing.

The often-traveled Humber (2-2) was up to the challenge against Burnett (3-1).

A waiver claim this winter from the Oakland Athletics, the former No. 3 pick overall by the New York Mets in 2004 was making his sixth career start and had never gone beyond six innings in the majors.

Humber started the seventh off with his sixth straight groundball out before walking Teixeira. A-Rod then hit a sharp grounder for the first hit, eliciting a cheer usually reserved for one of his home runs.

White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez and catcher A.J. Pierzynski immediately went to the mound to calm Humber after the hit, and the right-hander responded by striking out Robinson Cano.

Nick Swisher grounded out to first on Humber's 100th pitch, one off his career high. Humber walked two and struck out five.

Humber was originally drafted by the Yankees in 2001, but did not sign. He was probably best known in his big league career for being traded by the Mets to Minnesota in a package for Johan Santana in 2008.

Reliever Chris Sale got two outs in the Yankees eighth before Santos was called upon when Andruw Jones was announced as a pinch hitter. Manager Joe Girardi went to left-hander Eric Chavez, who grounded a single down the right field line.

Yankees reliever Rafael Soriano, unavailable Sunday because of tightness in his back, gave up a run in the ninth. The inning started when Ramirez hit a high pop that dropped untouched behind the mound. Paul Konerko singled home an insurance run.

With one out in the fifth, Humber hit Swisher with a pitch, then induced Jorge Posada into grounding into a 3-6-3 double play.

NOTES: Burnett was drafted by the Mets in the eighth round in 1995. ... The last time the Yankees were shut out during the regular season at home was Aug. 20 against Seattle. The were shut out by the Rangers 8-0 in the ALCS on Oct. 18.