Tightness in right forearm puts Jenks on Sox shelf

DETROIT - The White Sox are losing games at the worst possible time, and they continue losing players to injury.

Bobby Jenks is the latest casualty.

The Sox' closer hasn't pitched since Saturday, when he saved both ends of a doubleheader at Boston. Jenks has tightness in his right forearm.

"There's something going on," pitching coach Don Cooper said. "We are not sure what it is. He tried to throw (Wednesday) night and didn't feel too good."

In addition to pitching twice Saturday against the Red Sox, Jenks matched his career high with 3 innings at Kansas City on Aug. 22.

With J.J. Putz and Matt Thornton both on the disabled list, Jenks also pitched 1-plus innings on Aug. 29 and 30.

"I can't say we overused him; he wanted to be out there for the team," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Hopefully, the tightness goes away in the next couple of days. That's all I know about it."

Putz (sore right knee) came off the disabled list Thursday and Thornton (left elbow inflammation) was activated off the DL last Friday.

Beckham update: Gordon Beckham was encouraged after an indoor hitting session at Comerica Park Thursday.

Beckham, who has missed the last three games with a sore right hand, might be back in the lineup when the White Sox open a three-game home series Friday night against the Royals.

"Today's the best it felt," Beckham said. "It still bothers me when I swing, but it's going to irritate me I think until the end of the season. I felt like I had good control of the bat today and that's something I haven't felt, even this past weekend."

Lineup change: A day after making 2 throwing errors Wednesday night, including a costly one in the fourth inning that led to 3 unearned runs, third baseman Mark Teahen was not in the lineup Thursday.

Brent Morel, called up from Class AAA Charlotte on Sunday, played third base, making his first major-league start.

Teahen has been a defensive liability all season at third with 10 errors in 52 games.

"I'm not saying I'm going to take (Teahen) out of third base because you may see him back at third base again," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I'm not going to try and take the confidence away from the kid."

Morel made a nice diving stop and throw to second base in the seventh inning.

"I know what I did to get up here, and what I can do to help the team win," said Morel, who was 0-for-2 before being lifted for pinch-hitter Mark Kotsay. "I'm just going to go out there and do the best I can."