Avila HR lifts Tigers to 3-2 win over White Sox

Posted August 14, 2010 11:00 pm

Scot Gregor

When he was closing games for the Seattle Mariners in 2006-07, the White Sox dreaded seeing J.J. Putz coming out of the bullpen.

Armed with a 100-mph fastball, Putz typically blew through the Sox' lineup, collected the save, and celebrated with his teammates.

No longer a pure power arm after having surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow 14 months ago, Putz still has been a successful reliever for the White Sox this year.

While his fastball occasionally ticks up near 100, Putz relies more on a splitter. The pitch has been effective, for the most part. But the splitter cost Putz and the Sox big time Saturday night.

With Bobby Jenks still sidelined with back spasms and likely headed to the disabled list, Putz got the call in the ninth inning with the White Sox clinging to a 2-1 lead over the Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field.

Putz was greeted by Brandon Inge's leadoff single, but the 33-year-old right-hander came back and struck out Ryan Raburn.

That brought Alex Avila to the plate, and the No. 8 hitter swatted Putz's first pitch, a hanging splitter, over the left-field fence to give Detroit a 3-2 win.

Afterward, Putz was calmly sitting in front of his locker waiting for the media.

"It was away and he put a good swing on it and hit it the opposite way," Putz said. "If you're going to get beat, that's the way you want to get beat. I didn't think it was a terrible pitch."

It was a terrible loss for the White Sox, considering the Twins won again and now hold a 2-game lead in the AL Central.

Putz felt bad because Sox starter Edwin Jackson was overpowering, pitching 7 innings and allowing 1 run on 5 hits while striking out 11.

"Edwin threw the ball great," Putz said. "I mean he had dominant stuff today. Very frustrating."

Jenks appears to be out of the closer's picture indefinitely, meaning Putz, Matt Thornton and possibly Sergio Santos are going to have to fill the pressurized role.

Is the ninth inning a concern?

"Not at all," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I think those guys are throwing the ball very well. When you're in that situation, you're one pitch away to close and one pitch away to lose.

"I thought the last guy, to be honest with you, that would hit a home run against him was Avila, especially the opposite way.

"I think this guy just put a nice swing on the ball. We just have to be ready for tomorrow. I'm not worried about that situation because I think those guys out there have confidence in themselves. It was just one game."

It was Jackson's third start for the Sox, and they've all been quality.

"Just go out there and do my job," said Jackson, who is 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA and has 24 strikeouts in 20 innings with the White Sox. "That's what a starter's job is: just keep the game close and give your team a chance to win."

Said Gordon Beckham: "He's been awesome. Anybody that asks what were we doing with that trade, or the naysayers, go ahead and look at what he's done. He's been great, and it's a shame we couldn't give him another win."

Scot Gregor's game tracker

Tigers 3, White Sox 2

Putz takes the fall: Called on to protect a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning, J.J. Putz served up a 2-run homer to Alex Avila, Detroit's No. 8 hitter, and took the loss.

Swing and a miss: Edwin Jackson was outstanding in his first start for the Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. The right-hander allowed 1 run in 7 innings and had 11 strikeouts. In 3 starts for the White Sox since coming over in a June 30 trade from the Diamondbacks, Jackson has 24 strikeouts in 20 innings.

Tough at the top: Leadoff man Juan Pierre and No. 2 hitter Omar Vizquel were a combined 4-for-7 with 1 walk, 1 run and 2 RBI.

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