Yankees 7, White Sox 1: Jeter and Tanaka star in win over White Sox

After taking a long time to get going yesterday, today the Yankees scored some early runs and never looked back. The Yankees scored four runs in the second and never trailed as they beat the White Sox 7-1. Derek Jeter picked up four hits to lead the way, while Masahiro Tanaka was good again, but you probably could've guessed that.

The Yankees opened the game's scoring with a couple runs in the second inning. Yangervis Solarte led off the inning with a single. After Alfonso Soriano flew out, Ichiro Suzuki singled. Brian Roberts then drew a walk to load the bases. That brought Brett Gardner to the plate. Gardner singled to right, scoring Solarte and Ichiro. Jeter then singled, scoring Roberts. Jacoby Ellsbury came up next. He made decent contact on a ball but Adam Eaton made a sliding catch to rob Ellsbury of a hit. Jeter was nearly doubled up at first but he made it back just in time. Gardner was able to tag up and score on the play. The Yankees wouldn't add more, but they had opened up a 4-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, the Yankees added another run. Jeter picked up a two-out triple when Eaton missed on a diving catch attempt. During Ellsbury's at bat, Andre Rienzo threw a wild pitch allowing Jeter to score to make it 5-0.

Two innings later, the Yankees tacked on more. Soriano led off the inning with a double. Ichiro then grounded out but moved Soriano over to third. After Roberts was hit by a pitch and Gardner struck out, Jeter recorded his fourth hit of the day, a single that scored Soriano. That gave the Yankees a 6-0 lead.

The White Sox picked up their first run in the bottom of the sixth. Tyler Flowers led off the inning with a double. Tanaka then got the next two outs before Conor Gillaspie singled to left. That scored Flowers and made it 6-1. Tanaka got the last out of the inning without any more trouble, keeping the Yankee lead at five runs.

In the bottom of the seventh, Tanaka walked Adam Dunn and allowed a single to Alexi Ramirez to start the inning. He then got Paul Konerko to line into a double play. But after walking Alejandro De Aza, that would be it for Tanaka. He went 6.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits and two walks while striking out six. Adam Warren came in and struck out Flowers to get out of the seventh.

In the eighth inning, Roberts hit a one-out home run to make it 7-1 Yankees. Warren stayed in and pitched a scoreless eighth inning to send the game to the ninth.

After the Yankees couldn't add more in the eighth, Matt Daley came in to try and get the last three outs. Dunn led off the inning by doubling down the first base line. But after that, Daley got the next three outs without trouble, clinching a series split and a 7-1 win for the Yankees.

The Yankees will now head to St. Louis to take on the Cardinals. Chase Whitley will go for the Yankees, while Michael Wacha will go for the Cardinals. First pitch will be at 4:15 eastern.

Box score.