Jenks flirts with disaster, survives bases-loaded jam

CLEVELAND - Just when it looked like Bobby Jenks was getting back into a groove as the White Sox' closer, he came dangerously close to blowing a huge lead against the Indians on Wednesday.

After stellar relief pitching by Tony Pena and Matt Thornton, Jenks entered the game in the ninth inning with a 5-1 lead.

The right-hander proceeded to yield 3 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks, and Cleveland was well positioned to complete the rally with the bases loaded and only one out in a 5-4 game.

"Pretty sad," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Wow, Bobby is throwing the ball good, I don't know why he (struggled). He was throwing 95, 96 (mph), I don't know why he doesn't throw strikes. Maybe a lack of concentration, but I think this game is big for us."

With the bases loaded and one down, Jenks struck out Austin Kearns and got Russell Branyan on a lazy flyball to left field to end the game.

"I didn't do a nice job," Jenks said. "I just did a good enough job. It was one of those days where you make some good pitches and they get hits. The only pitch I'm mad about is the Shelly Duncan pitch (a 2-run single). I feel that was the only one I missed my location. It's just one of those days in baseball."

Pena comes through: With Mark Buehlre ejected with one out in the third inning, the White Sox needed a relief pitcher to step up.

Tony Pena answered the call.

Pitching a career-high 4 innings, Pena didn't allow a run and only 2 hits while getting the win.

"Pena saved the bullpen and he saved this team," Buehrle said. "Obviously you don't want to get tossed. (John) Danks went 5 innings Monday, (Jake) Peavy went 6 innings yesterday so our bullpen was already short. Pena stepped in and did a (heck) of a job for us to save the rest of that bullpen."

In two relief outings this season, against the Rays and Yankees, Pena allowed 9 earned runs in just 2 combined innings. Outside of that, the right-hander has allowed 3 earned runs in 22 2/3 innings.

"I think Pena did a tremendous job out of the bullpen, he's been great," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "All that ERA Pena has out there, that's the starting pitching's fault. Pena has been throwing the ball very good all year long."