Sox let one slip away in 6-5 loss
BALTIMORE -- The White Sox' bullpen hasn't had many interview requests from the media this season, and that's a good thing.
When relief pitchers are doing their jobs, there's rarely reason to rehash what's happened. But when things go bad, as Bobby Jenks and Boone Logan noticed on Thursday night, here come the notepads and microphones.
"The best thing we have so far is the bullpen,'' manager Ozzie Guillen said after the Sox blew a late lead and lost to the Orioles 6-5 in 10 innings at Camden Yards. "We couldn't get it done. Tough game. Tough game. Those kinds of games, you're going to see on the road. Today is over with. The biggest thing is we have to show up tomorrow.''
Jenks has shown up and done his job with remarkable consistency, but he blew his first save opportunity in 11 tries, dating back to last season, in the ninth inning.
With the White Sox leading 5-3 and a runner on second base and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Jenks allowed an RBI double to Brian Roberts and a run-scoring single to Melvin Mora, sending the game into extra innings.
"Bobby, no matter how good he is, he's not going to be 100 percent every night,'' Logan said. "That's just the way this game is.''
Logan had been very good in his first 5 appearances this season, allowing 1 run on 3 hits over 4½ innings with 5 strikeouts and no walks.
The left-hander replaced Jenks in the 10th and got into immediate trouble by walking leadoff hitter Kevin Millar and Luke Scott. After left fielder Carlos Quentin made a nice running catch on an Aubrey Huff flyball, Adam Jones singled to end it.
"My slider wasn't as sharp as it usually is,'' Logan said. "For me to do well, I need to have the slider. It's my best pitch. But that's no excuse. When you walk guys, it's almost guaranteed it's going to be tough to get out of.''
Starter Gavin Floyd had another strong outing, pitching 6 innings and allowing 2 runs on 2 hits. Pitching for the first time in his hometown in front of more than 100 family members and friends, Floyd retired the first 12 Baltimore hitters he faced before Millar led off the fifth inning with a single.
The Sox took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on Joe Crede's RBI single and Nick Swisher's sacrifice fly before Nick Markakis tied it up with a 2-run homer off Floyd with two outs in the sixth.
Quentin put the White Sox right back in front with a solo homer leading off the seventh inning and Crede followed with another home run.
Quentin homered again in the eighth.
"Anytime you have a chance to win and don't, nobody's happy about that,'' Quentin said. "Obviously it stings, but go back to playing baseball the way we can tomorrow. We have tons of character in here. We'll bounce back.''
Orioles 6, White Sox 5 (10)
On the mound: Bobby Jenks continued to struggle at Camden Yards. The Sox' closer has 13 career blown saves and three have come in Baltimore. Starter Gavin Floyd allowed 2 runs on 2 hits in 6 innings.
At the plate: Carlos Quentin hit 2 home runs in a game for the second time in his career. Jermaine Dye's double leading off the second inning was his 1,500th career hit. Paul Konerko (.176) was 0-for-5.
-- Scot Gregor