Sox settle for the split as Garcia struggles in Toronto

Posted April 15, 2010 11:00 pm

Scot Gregor

The White Sox entered their four-game series against the Blue Jays on Monday having lost 10 straight at Rogers Centre dating back to 2007.

The Sox exited Thursday night with a split after Toronto pounded starting pitcher Freddy Garcia and rolled to a 7-3 win.

Breaking even seems like a pretty good accomplishment considering the recent history, but White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was far from satisfied.

"We play to win as many games as we can," Guillen told reporters. "Did we play good? Yeah, I'll take two out of four here but I expect to win those games."

Garcia (0-2) didn't give the Sox much chance to accomplish that mission in front of another miniscule crowd.

After working out of trouble in the first inning, Garcia allowed a run in the second on Travis Snider's two-out home run.

The Jays scored 3 runs on 4 hits in the third inning and broke it open with 3 more in the fourth.

"Very, very rough," Guillen said. "Obviously, with the stuff Freddy has, he's got to throw strikes. He threw strikes to a couple of guys but didn't make the right pitch and that killed him."

Garcia surprised Guillen and many others in his first start of the season. He lost to the Twins on Saturday at U.S. Cellular Field but allowed just 2 runs in 7 innings.

Against the Blue Jays, Garcia didn't have the 90-mph fastball and he failed to locate his off-speed pitches down in the strike zone.

"I don't think he was throwing the ball the way he wanted to throw the ball," Guillen said. "Every time he goes out there, you hope he throws the ball around the plate. No matter if you're 99 (mph) or 80, if you don't throw strikes you're going to get hit. Obviously, you're going to get hit easier if you don't have a plus fastball."

After pounding Toronto 11-1 on Wednesday, the White Sox' offense was held to 3 runs on 5 hits by Jays starter Dana Eveland (2-0) and three relievers.

Donny Lucy ended Eveland's shutout bid with his first major-league home run, a solo shot in the fifth inning. Filling in for injured backup catcher Ramon Castro (bruised right heel), Lucy continues to make the most of his opportunity.

"I'm very happy with him," Guillen said. "He can do a lot of good things and I'm not afraid to play him."

Trailing 7-1, the Sox put a scare into the Blue Jays in the seventh inning.

Andruw Jones drew a leadoff walk to chase Eveland, and after Alex Rios struck out against Shawn Camp, Alexei Ramirez hit a 2-run homer.

The Sox had a chance to score more runs in the sixth when Juan Pierre also walked to lead off the inning and advanced to second on Gordon Beckham's single.

Carlos Quentin followed with a deep drive to right-center field, but Vernon Wells made a nice running catch and doubled off Pierre.

"When Carlos hit that ball, I thought it was gone," Guillen said. "Wells made a good play and that changed the game."

Scot Gregor's game tracker

Freddy fendered: After making a strong debut against Minnesota (2 runs in 7 innings), Sox starter Freddy Garcia didn't have anything going against Toronto. Garcia took the loss after allowing 7 runs on 8 hits in 3-plus innings.

Rolling along: How hot is the White Sox' bullpen? After Randy Williams pitched 2 scoreless innings in relief of Garcia, Sergio Santos, J.J. Putz and Scott Linebrink each pitched 1 scoreless inning and struck out the side. Sox relievers haven't allowed a run in their last 171/3 innings.

Golden moment: Gordon Beckham made a great defensive play in the fifth inning, diving to his right to glove a Travis Snider drive and making a backhand flip to shortstop Alexei Ramirez, forcing out Jeremy Reed at second base.

Scouting report

White Sox vs. Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field

TV: Channel 26 Friday; Channel 32 Saturday; Comcast SportsNet Sunday

Radio: WSCR 670-AM

Pitching matchups: The Sox' Mark Buehrle (2-0) vs. Mitch Talbot (0-1) Friday at 6:05 p.m.; Jake Peavy (0-0) vs. Jake Westbrook (0-1) Saturday at 3:10 p.m.; Gavin Floyd (0-0) vs. Fausto Carmona (1-0) Sunday at 12:05 p.m.

At a glance: The White Sox get another crack at the Indians, who won two of three at U.S. Cellular Field last week to open the season. Buehrle won the first game of the year, pitching 7 scoreless innings and retiring the last 10 Cleveland hitters he faced. The Sox were 6-3 at Progressive Field last year. Omar Vizquel, a standout shortstop for the Indians from 1994-2004, makes his third return visit to Cleveland.

Next: Tampa Bay Rays at U.S. Cellular Field, Tuesday-Thursday

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