Good therapy for Konerko, Sox

From the sound of things, maybe the White Sox should consider replacing one of their batting cages with a psychiatrist's couch.

After Paul Konerko parked 2 solo home runs into the left-field seats Sunday to lead the White Sox to a 6-1 victory over Baltimore at U.S. Cellular Field, he talked about the mental anguish of dealing with an early-season slump.

"There's a fine line between being disappointed and being frustrated and then letting it take away from future (at-bats)," Konerko explained. "There's a fine line you walk in this game, and I'm no expert at it, believe me. It's a battle every day."

Konerko was hitting just .197 heading into the contest. He opened both the second and sixth innings with home runs off Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie. The second blast gave the White Sox a 2-1 lead.

"We need that," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "We need Paulie to get it going. Paulie's the type of guy, he studies too much hitting and it gets in his head. I think it's a little relief for him to have a day like this today."

Asked if what Guillen said was true, Konerko chose his words carefully. While maintaining confidence that all slumps will pass, he admitted that it can be easy to dwell on failure.

"I'm going to have a good season," Konerko said. "I'll be where I always am at the end of the season, if not better. But it gets frustrating. You want the results.

"You go through a three-week stretch in July or August that's not good, it doesn't show up as much because you've got 400 at-bats to back it up. When you start off the season and the results aren't happening, it's the end of the world. That's the hard part, not letting that stuff get to you. Some days it does."

Another slumping Sox slugger is beginning to show signs of revival. Right fielder Nick Swisher (.232) was just 1-for-5 overall Sunday, but he doubled and hit a deep flyball in the first inning that Orioles left fielder Jay Payton caught just in front of the yellow line at the top of the fence.

After Konerko made it 2-1, Baltimore helped pad the lead with walks and errors. With runners on second and third in the sixth inning, 2 runs scored when shortstop Brandon Fahey gathered in a groundball and threw wildly to the plate. Brian Anderson was credited with an infield single and an RBI on the play.

In the seventh, Orioles reliever Greg Aquino walked the bases loaded, then hit Carlos Quentin to force in a run. A second run scored on a fielder's choice. The White Sox accepted 5 walks overall.

"We don't swing at bad pitches as much as in the past," Guillen said. "I think that's contagious. That gets us going."

Sox starter Jose Contreras (2-2) scattered 3 walks and 5 hits to beat Baltimore for the second time in 11 days.

"The key is throwing strikes and getting ahead in the count," Guillen said. "That's it. That's all the keys he has."

These teams meet once more this afternoon before the White Sox play 16 of their next 19 on the road.

"Tomorrow's one of those games that good teams that want to go to the playoffs win," Konerko added. "That's what I'm looking for."

White Sox 6, Baltimore 1

At the plate: Paul Konerko slugged a pair of solo home runs, while 4 more runs came courtesy of walks and errors by the Orioles.

On the mound: Jose Contreras (2-2) was solid for 6⅔ innings and picked up his second win of the season over the Orioles.