Shuck keeps coming through in clutch for Chicago White Sox

J.B. Shuck spends most of his time on the White Sox' bench, but the reserve outfielder has consistently come through when called on to pinch-hit this season.

"It's fun," Shuck said. "It's one of the tougher things to do, so for me I take it as a good challenge. I try to go out there, it's just you against him, who's going to win? It's fun."

On Saturday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field, the Sox won 3-2 over the Orioles and Shuck had a huge say in the outcome.

After Baltimore tied the game in the top of the eighth inning on Manny Machado's 2-run homer, Gordon Beckham led off the bottom half with a walk against reliever Bud Norris.

Alexei Ramirez sacrificed Beckham to second base, and side-armer Darren O'Day replaced Norris.

Shuck pinch-hit for Geovany Soto, and he rifled O'Day's first pitch to right field for an RBI double that put the White Sox in front for good.

"I was just looking for something out over the plate," Shuck said after raising his batting average to .292. "He threw a slider that happened to come back over the middle and I was able to put a good piece of wood on it."

Shuck supplied the offense, and right fielder Avisail Garcia preserved the win with a great catch in the ninth.

"That was phenomenal," Shuck said. "(Chris Davis) hit it off the bat and he hit it hard. But you could see Avi tracking back and he got off the ground and he was probably a couple feet behind the fence.

"That was one of the best I've ever seen."

Brotherly love:

The White Sox honored servicemen and servicewomen before Saturday's Independence Day game against the Orioles, and Air Force Captain Zachary Eaton took part in the on-field festivities.

Eaton walked out to center field and surprised his brother Adam.

"I knew he was going to be here, but for him being in uniform like that, it kind of brought a tear to my eye," said Adam Eaton, the Sox' center fielder. "It was something special for me. I'm very blessed that it happened. I'm proud of him and his accomplishments."

Jenks returns:

The White Sox have a big weekend celebration for the 2005 World Series champion team planned for July 17-19.

On Saturday, Bobby Jenks gave the crowd at U.S. Cellular Field a little preview of what's to come.

The closer on the Sox' title team 10 years ago, Jenks talked about the good times before throwing the ceremonial first pitch to John Danks.

"It's meaningful," said Jenks, who made the jump from Class AA Birmingham to the majors in 2005 and saved six games in the regular season and four in the playoffs. "It was a special year for everybody.

"It was a special team and obviously, with the history of not winning in so many years, it means a lot more to the city as well. But just for us as players alone, most of us aren't playing anymore due to injuries or retirement, so it's nice to be remembered."

Jenks pitched for the White Sox from 2005-10 before signing with the Boston Red Sox in 2011.

Back problems, a pulmonary embolism and substance-abuse issues combined to end Jenks' career midway through the 2011 season.

While he recently talked about making a comeback, the 34-year-old Jenks has called it quits for good.

"Health wise, I'm going to be able to live a normal life," Jenks said. "I can go play golf here soon and just be with the kids and be an everyday citizen. But as far as baseball goes, I did the full almost a year-and-a-half of rehab, full strength top to bottom, did the whole throwing program, and it's just not going to happen.

"I gave it a run; it's just too much pain off the mound. I can play catch again, I can play with the kids, throw the football around on the beach, do all those things that you want to do to live your life. But getting on a mound again, that ship has sailed."