White Sox pound out 20 hits, rout Athletics

OAKLAND, Calif. — Twenty hits. Ten runs. Another home run for Elvis Andrus.

The beat goes on for the White Sox, who won their fourth straight game and ninth in their last 11 by routing the struggling Athletics 10-2 Saturday, positioning themselves to complete a four-game sweep Sunday.

Under bench coach and acting manager Miguel Cairo filling in wonderfully for Tony La Russa, the Sox improved to 9-3, including 5-1 on a road trip that began against the playoff-bound Mariners. Andrus homered for the second time in the series, a day after his two-run double broke a tie in the Sox’ five-run ninth inning of a 5-3 victory.

“We’re on a mission,” Cairo said.

Andrus’ homer against A’s righty Adrian Martinez (4-4) was the Sox’ 21st in the last 12 games, following a dry run of 18 homers over the previous 27 games. The Sox are batting .301 with 77 runs scored during that stretch.

The Sox (72-68) had 20 hits or more twice in a three-game span for only the second time in history. They also did it June 19 (at Cleveland) and June 21 (at Minnesota) in 1974. AJ Pollock and Andrew Vaughn each had four hits, and Eloy Jimenez had three with three RBI.

Every Sox starter had at least one hit except for Gavin Sheets, who went 0-for-5 but felled Martinez with a hard liner to his shoulder that caromed for an infield out. Martinez allowed 14 hits in 3‰ innings.

Vaughn and Yasmani Grandal each drove in two runs.

“It’s been special,” Vaughn said. “One through nine, everyone is taking great at-bats.”

“The whole year has been a grind, but we’re in a good spot right now, playing loose,” Pollock said.

‘Savage’ Lynn stays on a roll

Right-hander Lance Lynn (6-5) allowed no earned runs over six innings to lower his ERA to 4.07. He is 4-0 with a 1.19 ERA in his last six starts.

Lynn would have had a much easier time if not for second baseman Josh Harrison’s fielding and throwing errors, which put two unearned runs on the board. He struck out five and walked one.

There was concern when Lynn tweaked his surgically repaired right knee during the first inning running toward first base on a grounder to first baseman Jose Abreu, but he worked through 107 pitches.

“It kind of flared up a little bit, but he continued and he was fine,” Cairo said. “He’s a horse.”

“He’s a savage out there,” Pollock said.

“Just getting it loose,” Lynn said with a grin. “Morning [afternoon] game. Took a minute to get going.”

Lynn has struck out 78 batters and walked six in his last 11 starts, the best ratio in the majors during that span.

This and that

The 5-3 win Friday featuring five runs in the ninth after being no-hit through six innings marked the first Sox win on the road when trailing by three or more runs in the ninth since April 6, 2011, at Kansas City.

† Luis Robert (wrist) has not played in the series but is a possibility Sunday, Cairo said.

† The A’s (50-90) have lost five straight.