Reliably, Buehrle cool under pressure
The White Sox had the right pitcher on the mound in Monday’s big series opener against the first-place Tigers.
Mark Buehrle kept his cool in the third inning after Detroit took a 2-0 lead thanks to a dropped flyball by second baseman Gordon Beckham followed by another flyball that fell between shortstop Alexei Ramirez and center fielder Alex Rios.
The Tigers could have scored even more runs, but Buehrle retired Ryan Raburn on a flyball with two outs and the bases loaded.
“These guys were busting their butts trying to make plays, and Beckham has made a million plays during the season and unbelievable plays to help us out,” Buehrle said after allowing 2 runs on 10 hits in 6 innings to get the win. “I know they feel bad when they don’t make a play, and you try to pitch out of it. I tried to pick (Beckham) up for once.”
Buehrle did just that, and the veteran left-hander also allowed 3 runs or fewer in his 15th straight start. Tom Bradley and Dave Lemonds were the last White Sox pitchers to accomplish the feat, both in 1972.
Buehrle also tied Ed Cicotte for seventh place all-time with his 156th win.
No pressure:Sunday afternoon#146;s nonwaiver trade deadline is approaching, and general manager Kenny Williams threatened to make wholesale roster changes if the Sox don#146;t pick up their play on this homestand.After Monday#146;s 6-3 win over the Tigers, catcher A.J. Pierzynski scoffed when asked if there#146;s any added pressure.#147;The trading deadline doesn#146;t have an affect on us one way or another as far as winning games,#148; Pierzynski said. #147;Whoever#146;s here is here and whatever moves the front office and the manager decide to make, it means nothing in the grand scheme of whether we try and win games or not. We#146;re trying to win every game no matter what happens. That#146;s irrelevant as far as I#146;m concerned. I think we just need to go out and win.#148;Middle ground:Jake Peavy is looking forward to matching up against Tigers ace Justin Verlander tonight in the middle game of the series.#147;I know I have to be awfully good against the other guy that#146;s going, but I expect to come out and give us a chance to win the ballgame,#148; said Peavy, who is 1-4 with a 7.39 ERA in his last 6 starts. #147;I know what that#146;s probably going to take facing a guy like Justin Verlander.#148;Rotating rotation:With Saturday#146;s rainout at Cleveland and an off day coming Thursday, Phil Humber is pitching out of the bullpen.Are the White Sox going to return to a six-man rotation this weekend?#147;I think right now, it#146;s working pretty good for us,#148; manager Ozzie Guillen said. #147;When you are pitching good, you have to leave the stuff the same way it is. My philosophy, I told (pitching coach) Don Cooper, make sure when the game starts somebody is up there throwing the ball. I don#146;t lose sleep over who is pitching tomorrow or how many we have. Make sure when game or inning starts, I have someone on the mound ready to go.#148;