Gutierrez single rallies M's over White Sox in 11
As expected, White Sox starter Gavin Floyd and Mariners mound opponent Felix Hernandez hooked up in a classic pitcher's duel Wednesday night at Safeco Field.
Since June 8, Floyd was 3-2 and his 1.30 ERA over that stretch was the lowest in the American League and third best in baseball behind Florida's Josh Johnson (0.88) and San Diego's Mat Latos (1.12).
Since May 13, Hernandez was 5-2 with a 2.30 ERA. And in 2 starts against the Sox last season, Seattle's ace pitched 17 scoreless innings.
Floyd and Hernandez locked horns from the first pitch, and they both exited in a scoreless draw.
Floyd pitched 7 innings and allowed 5 hits and Hernandez went 8 innings and allowed 2 hits.
The Sox ended up taking a 1-0 lead in the 11th on two-out RBI single from Omar Vizquel, but the Mariners got to Bobby Jenks in the bottom half and rallied for a 2-1 victory on a 2-run single by Franklin Gutierrez.
It was fairly easy to forecast a low-scoring battle, but there was one player on the field that's been a huge surprise - Vizquel.
Signed to a one year, $1.375 million contract by the White Sox on Nov. 23, Vizquel was rarely even seen over the first two months of the season.
And the 43-year-old infielder was so dismayed by his lack of playing time that he sounded like retirement was inevitable at the end of the season, if not sooner.
"It's hard to play in the role that I am when you're used to playing every day," Vizquel said before a May 25 game at Cleveland. "It's hard preparation. Sometimes you feel disappointed, sometimes you're sad. Your mental process is different. You take different ways to prepare and I don't know if I can do it another year.
"I could probably do it because physically I feel pretty good, but mentally it takes a toll on your body. It makes you doubt sometimes. I don't think I want to go through that process again. I have to finish this season pretty strong, and if I feel like I finish the way I really want to I might give it a thought to go another year."
Consider Vizquel a strong candidate to be with the White Sox again in 2011.
When starting third baseman Mark Teahen went down with a fractured finger on May 31, Vizquel got his shot to play. And he's made the most of it.
Not only was Vizquel batting .277 heading into Wednesday night's game against the Mariners, he was playing eye-popping defense.
Before the game, manager Ozzie Guillen told reporters Teahen is not going to be the regular third baseman when he comes off the disabled list.
"I'm going to put (Vizquel) out there until he dies," Guillen said. "We never thought Omar was going to need a rest with this ballclub. I'm going to put him out there as long as we can."
And Teahen?
"I'm going to use him all over the place because I think Omar's been pretty good," Guillen said. "I don't think (Teahen's) lost his job. I'll try to move him all over the place."
When he was with the Royals, Teahen played first base, second, third and right field. He could also replace Mark Kotsay at designated hitter.
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