Sonnanstine gives Sox that rundown feeling
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- There was one obvious positive about the White Sox' game Saturday night -- it didn't last long.
"That was a fast (butt)-kicking,'' manager Ozzie Guillen said after the Rays dispatched the Sox 5-0 in just 2 hours and 2 minutes, the shortest game in Tropicana Field history.
Credit Tampa Bay starting pitcher Andy Sonnanstine for setting the rapid tempo and sticking with it. While pitching the first shutout and first complete game of his career, Sonnanstine allowed just 3 hits and only 1 walk.
Not bad for an obscure guy who came in with an 8.80 ERA.
"I have to give credit to … what's his name, Samsonite?'' Guillen said. "He threw the ball well. I keep saying, if you throw strikes you have a chance to win the game.''
While the White Sox have been doing just about everything right this season, they came in with a .246 team batting average. Only the Oakland Athletics (.245) and Cleveland Indians (.237) were lower.
But the Sox have been able to work counts, draw walks and score despite the lack of actual hitting. That's why they were second in the American League with 92 runs.
Credit Sonnanstine, but the White Sox' offense just didn't seem to be interested Saturday. Orlando Cabrera, Toby Hall and Joe Crede had the only hits, all singles, and Carlos Quentin drew a walk in the eighth inning.
"There are no excuses,'' leadoff man Nick Swisher said. "We just didn't have our rhythm tonight. Tip your hat. (Sonnanstine) pitched a great game and shut us down.''
The Sox' offense scuffled in Mark Buehrle's last start, a 2-1 loss to Oakland on Monday at U.S. Cellular Field. This time, the left-hander got even less support.
"You definitely want to get some runs,'' Buehrle said after pitching 7 innings and giving up 5 runs on 12 hits. "It's going to happen. Teams are going to go though struggles and that's when the pitching needs to step up.''
In Friday's 9-2 victory, the White Sox botched a routine rundown play but had more than enough offense to overcome the gaffe. It happened again Saturday, and this time the mistake hurt the Sox.
"To see that two days in a row is kind of weird,'' Guillen said. "You don't see that too often, and that's why we lost.''
With two outs in the second inning, Buehrle hit Jonny Gomes with a pitch and then used his pickoff move to perfection. Gomes was caught leaning off first base, but the White Sox muffed another rundown and Gomes was safe at second base when he avoided shortstop Orlando Cabrera's tag.
Taking advantage of the situation, the Rays followed with 4 straight singles to open a 3-0 lead.
"You can't play hot potato,'' Guillen said of the rundown play. "You have to make the guy run as hard as you can and give up the ball.''
Buehrle usually is able to pitch over defensive lapses, but he wasn't able to get out of Saturday's jam.
"Guys who go out there and get hit and put the ball in play, obviously we need the defense behind us,'' Buehrle said. "To give up 3 runs there is definitely frustrating.''
Rays 5, White Sox 0
At the plate: Jim Thome and Paul Konerko each were 0-for-3; they're both batting .172. The Sox didn't put a runner in scoring position while being shut out for the first time.
On the mound: Mark Buehrle took the loss after pitching 7 innings and allowing 5 runs on 12 hits. Mike MacDougal pitched 1 scoreless inning.
-- Scot Gregor