Jenks saves the day as Sox close to within 3½ games of Twins
It should have been about the win, about Gordon Beckham's clutch 3-run homer in the seventh inning that helped the White Sox pull 3½ games behind the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central.
Instead, it was about the bullpen. Again.
Leading the Baltimore Orioles 7-2 heading into the ninth inning Tuesday night at U.S. Cellular Field, the Sox were set up for a stress-free win.
"It's hard to go out there half-naked," manager Ozzie Guillen said.
In other words, the White Sox' bullpen is not fully armed at this critical stage of the season.
Sergio Santos was on the mound to start the ninth, but the rookie right-hander failed to retire any of the four hitters he faced. In addition, his velocity was down.
Santos allowed 2 runs before J.J. Putz was called on, and the veteran right-hander had to exit after falling behind Ty Wigginton 3-0.
Putz's right knee flared up again, and he is headed for the disabled list. So is Matt Thornton, who got good news on his left elbow but wouldn't be ready to pitch for another week.
Fortunately for the Sox, Bobby Jenks was available to pitch Tuesday, even after he threw 3 innings Sunday at Kansas. And Jenks came up big again, getting Wigginton to ground into a double play and retiring Luke Scott on a flyball to lift the Sox to a 7-5 win.
"I'm just happy we got the win," said Jenks, who returned from back spasms late last week. "It's just right now all of our thoughts and prayers go to our bullpen guys, Thornton and J.J. That's where our concern is right now.
"It's just one of those things where even in a nonsave situation, how that inning started out, I was doing my regular routine, going out there and getting ready as if I was just in the bullpen."
The bullpen is in shambles, but the White Sox are trying to move forward.
"We needed to get some runs," Beckham said. "We needed to get a hit in a big situation. On Sunday I had a couple of at-bats where I didn't. It was nice to come through.
"We're 31/2 out and we still have a month to play, so I think we're going to see a lot of ups and downs and hopefully a lot more ups in the next month and hopefully the Twins stumble a bit."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Scot Gregor's game tracker</p>
<p class="News"><b>Jenks come through:</b> With the tying run at the plate and no outs in the ninth inning, Bobby Jenks came on and got a double-play ball and a flyout to save the Sox.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Big hit Beckham:</b> Gordon Beckham snapped a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning with a 3-run homer.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Purpose pitch?</b> Both benches were warned in the seventh inning after Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie hit Alex Rios with a pitch. The White Sox didn't retaliate, but they have two more games with Baltimore.</p>
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<li><a href="/story/?id=403194">Thornton headed to disabled list, but news is good <span class="date">[8/24/10]</span></a></li>
<li><a href="/story/?id=403015">White Sox going after Manny Ramirez? Sox GM can't comment <span class="date">[8/24/10]</span></a></li>
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