Buehrle mows down M's

CHICAGO – Mark Buehrle wasted little time shutting down the Seattle Mariners — except Ichiro Suzuki.

Buehrle gave up just three hits to Suzuki and struck out a career-high 12, and Paul Konerko hit a pair of home runs to lead the Chicago White Sox over the Seattle 2-1 Saturday in a brisk 1 hour, 39 minutes.

"He's unbelievable, the best to play behind," Konerko said. "He grabs the ball and throws it for strikes and nobody is hitting it hard."

Buehrle (2-1) was dominant in his 16th career complete game, needing just 106 pitches — 73 strikes — and only walking one.

"I was locating my fastball probably the best I was ever locating it," Buehrle said. "I was hitting my location and keeping guys off balance. I was hitting the corners; I don't throw the ball down the middle."

Buehrle lost his shutout bid in the ninth inning when Suzuki tripled and scored on Adrian Beltre's groundout to first.

"I can't seem to get that guy out," Buehrle said. "He's the best hitter I've ever faced."

Buehrle outdueled Ryan Franklin (1-1) as the White Sox posted their eighth straight victory over the Mariners, a streak that started last July 9.

Franklin allowed two runs and four hits over eight innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.

But Buehrle was the ace as the White Sox improved to 8-3, their best start since 1982.

"He (Buehrle) has his own tempo and his own rhythm," Suzuki said through a translator. "Today he was able to pitch on his own, what he wanted to do and the pitch that he wanted to throw."

White Sox catcher Chris Widger, who singled off Franklin, said Buehrle had full command of his pitching repertoire.

"He's aggressive and has four very good pitches," Widger said. "Take the best hitter in baseball out and you've got something special today."

After Suzuki opened the game with a single, Buehrle retired the next 11 hitters before walking Bret Boone with two outs in the fourth.

Following Boone's walk, Buehrle retired five straight before Suzuki singled with one out in the sixth.

Konerko's solo shot gave Chicago a 1-0 lead in the second. His fifth homer of the season landed halfway up the left-field bleachers.

In the sixth, Suzuki became Seattle's first baserunner to reach second. After his single, Suzuki advanced on Randy Winn's groundout, but was left stranded when Beltre bounced out.

Konerko led off the seventh with his second homer, also to left field. It was Konerko's first multihomer game this season and 12th of his career.

Konerko leads the majors with six homers, but he was just 1-for-19 entering Saturday.

"I'm just trying to be the toughest out I can be," Konerko said. "I'm not looking for home runs, I'm just trying to scrape out some hits.

Notes: Buehrle has lasted at least six innings in 31 straight starts. ... Seattle 1B Richie Sexson missed his second straight game with the flu. ... Franklin made his second start on Saturday after beginning the season in the Mariners' bullpen. He switched to the rotation when LHP Bobby Madritsch went on the DL April 7. ... With Saturday's victory the White Sox won their fourth straight series. They have won all four this season.