Offense just can't get going for White Sox
The White Sox collectively swung and missed through much of another loss Friday night, this one a 4-3 decision in 11 innings to the rival Twins at U.S. Cellular Field.
The Sox were just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and are 4-for-27 in that important category for the season.
Afterward, manager Ozzie Guillen wasn't nearly as angry as he was when the Sox fell to the Cleveland Indians 5-3 in 11 innings the previous night.
He was just a little queasy.
"I don't feel real good in my stomach watching those guys hit," Guillen said after the Sox lost their third straight. "I have to be patient. If not, it's going to be a long season."
It already has been a long opening week, but Alex Rios appeared to wake up the slumbering offense in the sixth inning with a 2-run, two-out double.
That put the White Sox in front 3-2, but reliever Scott Linebrink gave it right back in the seventh by walking two of the three Minnesota hitters he faced. The first free pass, to Denard Span, scored the run that tied the game and ultimately forced extra innings.
Overall, Guillen was thrilled with the rest of the pitching, by starter John Danks and relievers Randy Williams, Matt Thornton, Sergio Santos and Tony Pena.
But the offense -
"We're very cold," Guillen said. "Nobody's swinging the bat and four guys don't even have an average yet. That's hard to do."
Unlike Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Indians, there was no controversy about Guillen calling for Gordon Beckham to bunt late in the game.
There was just more of the same lack of clutch hitting after Rios' double off Minnesota starter Francisco Liriano.
From there, the Sox squandered a pair of great scoring chances.
Alexei Ramirez led off the seventh with a double and moved up to third base on A.J. Pierzynski's groundout. Juan Pierre grounded back to Twins reliever Pat Neshek and Beckham popped out to first baseman Justin Morneau to end the threat.
In the 10th, Mark Teahen came to the plate with runners on first and second and one out. He grounded into a double play and is 0-for-9 on the young season.
"I'm sure if this was going on in the middle of the season, it wouldn't be that big of a deal," Teahen said. "But it's early and everything is pretty new. I'm confident we'll get it going."
So is Danks, who gave up 3 straight singles to open the game and worked his way out of the jam.
"We have plenty of time," said Danks, who worked 6 innings and allowed 2 runs on 8 hits. "Obviously we didn't want to start the season 1-3. But we know we're good and it's just a matter of time before we start clicking."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Scot Gregor's game tracker</p>
<p class="News">Twins 4, White Sox 3 (11)</p>
<p class="News"><b>The end:</b> Reliever Tony Pena appeared to strike out J.J. Hardy twice looking in the 11th inning. But home-plate umpire Chris Guccione didn't see it that way, and Hardy slapped a game-winning RBI single past diving shortstop Alexei Ramirez to give Minnesota its fourth straight win.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Walk this way:</b> In the first four games, the Sox have 24 walks and 25 hits.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Old timer:</b> Omar Vizquel made his White Sox debut and played third base. At 42, Vizquel is the oldest player to appear in a game for the Sox since Carlton Fisk (45) in 1993.</p>
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<h2>Stories</h2>
<ul class="links">
<li><a href="/story/?id=372236">Guillen has no use for critics<span class="date"> [4/9/10]</span></a></li>
<li><a href="/story/?id=372234">Thome understands why his days with Sox endedE<span class="date"> [4/9/10]</span></a></li>
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