A.J. shows the way
DETROIT -- When discussing the White Sox' offense, the main topics are typically the additions of Nick Swisher and Orlando Cabrera at the top of the order and the expected resurgence of Jim Thome, Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye in the middle.
On Friday, A.J. Pierzynski sent a resounding reminder that he can help the Sox as well.
"He should get a lot of chances if Jim and I and Jermaine are doing our jobs," Konerko said. "He could be the key to the team. When you have a guy in the 6-hole doing what he's doing, that's a pretty tough sixth spot.''
After dropping 15 pounds over the winter and reporting to camp ready to make amends for last year's miserable showing by the offense, Pierzynski has come out swinging.
The Sox' 31-year-old catcher sparked Friday afternoon's 8-5 win over the struggling Tigers by going 3-for-5 and driving in 5 runs at Comerica Park.
Pierzynski decided the outcome in the seventh inning, when he jumped on Detroit reliever Jason Grilli's first pitch and circled the bases with a 3-run homer.
Ahead of Pierzynski in the seventh inning, Konerko doubled on Grilli's first pitch and Dye singled, also on the first pitch.
"You could definitely tell the difference in our energy as a team this year from where it was last year," Pierzynski said. "As soon as Grilli comes in, we know he's going to try and go after you and throw strikes. He made a couple mistakes that guys hit.
"It was one of those weird innings where he threw three pitches and gave up 3 runs. You don't see that very often."
White Sox fans didn't see the offense attack like it did Friday very often in 2007, either. It's still early, but it looks like Sox hitters are going to be much more effective this season.
"It's a little bit of the new guys, a little bit of it being a new season, a fresh outlook, a different attitude in spring training, a different attitude on this team," Pierzynski said. "Plus, a lot of guys were embarrassed, let's be honest.
"We stunk last year, myself included. I wasn't very good. We have a lot of professional guys that want to win and expect to win, and that's what we want to do this year -- come out and play as hard as we can and win games."
Pierzynski hiked his average to .529 following his big day against the Tigers. It won't be anywhere near that high at the end of the season, but the workhorse catcher should be able to better his numbers (.263, 14 HR, 50 RBI) from a year ago.
"A.J. can be a big help," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "We always count on Thome and Konerko, but A.J.'s in the middle of a lot of things. If he continues to swing the bat like that, he can pick everybody up when everybody's not swinging the bat good. Everybody knows A.J. can hit.
"One thing about A.J. in the past, he always gave bats away and got himself out. Hopefully, this year he continues to do (what he's doing) and keeps it up as long as he can."
Guillen also expects similar success from the rest of the offense.
"Well, I think every team has habits and you just try to build good ones and not have bad ones," Konerko said. "Right now, I don't think we are anything. We are going about it the right way, but we have to keep driving it home that a couple of months from now, it's second nature for our team to play like that."
White Sox 8, Tigers 5
At the plate: A.J. Pierzynski had a monster day. The catcher doubled in the second inning and scored, hit a 2-run double in the third and added a 3-run homer in the seventh inning. The 5 RBI were the most in a game for Pierzynski since Aug. 13, 2004, when he played for the Giants. Carlos Quentin hit his first home run for the Sox, a 2-run shot in the second inning.
On the mound: Starter Jose Contreras labored through 5-plus innings, allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on 10 hits and 4 walks. Boone Logan pitched a scoreless inning to earn the win, and Bobby Jenks picked up his second save in as many games.
-- Scot Gregor