Buehrle's on the mark in Sox 5-1 win over A's
The White Sox didn't have a closer controversy on Friday night. You can thank Mark Buehrle for that.
Pitching on the one-year anniversary of his perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Buehrle was brilliant against the A's in the Sox' 5-1 win at the Coliseum.
Buehrle, who entered the game with a 5-2 record and 2.42 ERA in his last 7 starts while lowering his ERA from 5.40 to 4.18, pitched his second complete game of the season and allowed just 4 hits.
The White Sox led 3-1 heading into the ninth inning, with Carlos Quentin driving in a pair in his return to the starting lineup.
A.J. Pierzynski's 2-run single in the final inning provided the insurance as the Sox won the series opener.
Before the game, manager Ozzie Guillen told reporters Bobby Jenks was not going to close games until he "gets back in track."
Jenks couldn't protect a 1-0 lead in the 11th inning at Seattle Wednesday night, and he also blew a 6-3 lead in the ninth at Minnesota on Sunday.
"Like I've said in the past, we're a better ballclub when Bobby is the guy to close," Guillen said. "We're not going to make this decision because he blew the last two games. The decision is going to be made because I don't see strikes, and even the outs he's getting are pretty hard.
"It will be one day, two days, to see if he can regroup. This doesn't mean he's lost his job. We just want him to get back on track and move back to where he belongs."
Jenks wasn't happy to hear he has to win his job back.
"I've been the closer for this team, this is my sixth year closing," Jenks said told whitesox.com. "I shouldn't have to go out there and prove myself over and over again. I think I've done that, and it looks like I'm going to have to do it again."
Guillen has three in-house options to close - J.J. Putz, who has pitched a franchise record 25 straight scoreless innings, Matt Thornton and rookie Sergio Santos.
"I don't want to really overstep my boundaries as far as manager-player goes," Jenks said. "Even Mariano (Rivera) had a couple bad games in a row. In my case, I just go out there and when I get the ball, I go out there and do my job. That's all I can do."
Guillen also said he's still not expecting general manager Kenny Williams to make any moves before Friday's nonwaiver trade deadline.
"There are a lot of factors out there," Guillen said. "To destroy this ballclub just for one guy, two guys, I don't think it's necessary. I'm happy with what we have."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Scot Gregor's game tracker</p>
<p class="News">White Sox 5, A's 1</p>
<p class="News"><b>Near perfect:</b> On the one-year anniversary of his perfect game, Mark Buehrle pitched a complete game and allowed 4 hits.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Stingy starters:</b> Sox starting pitchers had a scoreless streak of 261/3 innings before Oakland scored in the seventh inning.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Q's back:</b> Carlos Quentin returned to the White Sox' lineup and was 0-for-1 with 2 walks and 2 RBI.</p>
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