Updated

Jordan Danks' first career home run was a big one as his solo shot in the ninth lifted the Chicago White Sox to a 4-3 win over the Oakland Athletics in the opener of a three-game set.

With two outs in the ninth and Pat Neshek (1-1) on the mound, Danks got a hold of the first pitch he saw and deposited it into the seats in right field for the win.

"Everybody dreams their whole life about being able to do that," said Danks on his home run. "Right before my at-bat I saw myself doing that and it just feels awesome."

That made a winner of Brett Myers (1-1), who pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

Gavin Floyd started the games for the White Sox and went six-plus innings in the start and gave up three runs on seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts for the White Sox, who snapped a two-game skid.

All of Chicago's runs came from the long ball as A.J. Pierzynski, Alexei Ramirez and Dayan Viciedo all went deep in the win.

Brandon Moss hit a two-run home run and Josh Reddick drove in the other run for the Athletics, who have dropped four of their last six games.

Brandon McCarthy, who made his first start since June 19 after a stint on the DL with a strained right shoulder, pitched six-plus innings and gave up three runs on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts.

"I thought he pitched well and pounded the zone really well," said Oakland manager Bob Melvin on McCarthy. "His curveball wasn't his best, but he pitched in the same fashion that he throws when he's healthy and pitching well."

Oakland worked a run across in the first inning as Coco Crisp led off with a walk, moved to second on a Jemile Weeks groundout, stole third and came home on Reddick's sacrifice fly.

Chris Carter started the Oakland second with a double and quickly came home after Moss went deep over the right-field wall for a 3-0 lead.

Pierzynski's leadoff blast in the second got Chicago on the board and Ramirez's two-out shot in the fourth brought Chicago within a run.

Viciedo's leadoff homer in the seventh tied the game.

Oakland left the bases loaded in the third and stranded men on base in each of the next four innings, but were retired in order in the eighth before wasting a leadoff walk by Cliff Pennington in the ninth.

Game Notes

Each team has won twice in the season series...Oakland went just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left nine on base...Travis Blackley pitches for Oakland on Saturday while Francisco Liriano will take the mound for Chicago...Before the game, Chicago placed first baseman Paul Konerko on the seven-day disabled list with a concussion. A corresponding roster move will be made on Saturday.