Guillen doesn't regret postgame tirade
So, how did the White Sox respond to manager Ozzie Guillen's scathing critique following Wednesday night's 2-1 loss in 11 innings at Kansas City?
Initially, not very well.
In the first inning against the Indians on Friday night at Progressive Field, Juan Pierre and Alexei Ramirez drew consecutive walks against Carlos Carrasco to open the game. They were stranded.
In the second, the Sox had runners on first and second with two outs and Pierre grounded out to end the inning.
In the third, the White Sox applied the pressure again, loading the bases with two outs. On Carrasco's first pitch, Alex Rios continued his season-long slump with a weak flyout to left field.
At that point, you started wondering if Guillen was going to set the postgame clubhouse on fire.
Fortunately for the Sox, Carlos Quentin came through again. And so did starting pitcher Gavin Floyd.
For one game, at least, that was good enough.
Quentin hit a 3-run homer off Carrasco in the fifth and Floyd pitched 7⅔ scoreless innings to lift the White Sox to a 3-0 win.
Before the game, Guillen offered no apologies for his harsh words after the Royals loss. The Sox were off Thursday.
“The things I said, people can take it the way they want to take it,” Guillen told reporters. “People can think whatever they want to think. My job is to win games. Well, we're not winning games. Was it frustration? Yes, I was frustrated. I think not just me, I think we all should be because we don't play so good.”
As for the risk of losing the team, so be it.
“If those guys hate me, fine, but win games because at end of the day that is the only satisfaction I have,” Guillen said. “I want those players to know what situation we are in.”
Thanks to Quentin's third home run since the all-star break, the Sox' situation is not quite as dire at the moment. No other White Sox player has homered in the second half.
“I gave my team a chance to win today so that's all I can ask for in myself,” Quentin told reporters. “The story is that Gavin (was) unbelievable. We had some chances and didn't get it done. It wasn't for a lack of effort but it just didn't get done early and he kept us right there at 0-0.”
Floyd started for the Sox in the first game after the break at Detroit last Friday and allowed 2 runs over 7⅔ innings to beat Justin Verlander and the Tigers.
The right-hander's effort against the Indians was even more important, according to Guillen, because Cleveland and Detroit are ahead of the White Sox in the AL Central.
Following this series, the Tigers come to U.S. Cellular Field for three games.
“I'm not going to say this is the biggest game of the year right here because we have a few more against them, but this is a very important game,” Guillen said. “It's very important to stay with them, stay close to them and not create a very dangerous gap.”
sgregor@dailyherald.com