WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Alex Rios drove in both Chicago runs, including the 11th-inning game winner, to lead the White Sox to a 2-1 win over the Washington Nationals on Friday.
Victory extended Chicago's winning streak to four games following an absorbing battle between the two starting pitchers in which Washington's rookie sensation Stephen Strasburg set a new Major League Baseball strikeout record.
Chicago's Gavin Floyd also deserved a better fate than the no-decision both starters received.
"We found a way to lose that kind of game a lot this year," White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko told reporters. "Hopefully that means the tide is starting to turn."
After giving up a run and back-to-back hits to open the game, Strasburg retired the next 15 batters, with nine strikeouts, before giving up a single to lead off the sixth inning.
Strasburg's 10 strikeouts allowed him to set a Major League record for strikeouts in a pitcher's first three starts with 32 to eclipse the previous record of 29 set by J.R. Richard of the Houston Astros in 1971.
Floyd, meanwhile, pitched eight strong innings giving up one run on four hits and struck out five, losing his shutout in the seventh when Ryan Zimmerman hit a two-out single and scored on an RBI double by Adam Dunn.
"We saw what we expected from (Strasburg)," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "But Gavin Floyd has thrown two back-to-back (exceptional) games, and to me that's more exciting."
The White Sox missed an opportunity to take the lead in the top of the 10th after Carlos Quentin walked to lead off the inning.
Brent Lillibridge replaced Quentin as a pinch runner and advanced to third base with two outs but a line-drive out by Gordon Beckham ended the threat.
Drew Storen, who pitched the final two innings for the Nationals, took the loss allowing two hits and two walks.
Matt Thornton, J.J. Putz and Bobby Jenks combined for three scoreless innings in relief of Floyd, Putz earning his second win and Jenks collecting his 14th save.
(Reporting by Mike Mouat in Windsor, Ontario. Editing by Alastair Himmer)
