Sox tough it out for 11 innings
How much monsoon, muck and misery can one man stand?
When you combine the White Sox and Orioles on a monstrosity of an afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field on Monday, the answer is quite a bit.
"I'd have to say yes,'' Sox first baseman Paul Konerko said when asked if the weather conditions were the worst he's ever played in.
"I think so,'' echoed White Sox starting pitcher Javier Vazquez.
On a windy, wet, cold day -- OK, it was pretty typical for Chicago lately -- the Sox and Orioles waited out a two-hour, six-minute rain delay before taking the field.
Playing in a driving rain, the teams slogged their way to a 3-3 tie before the game was suspended after 11 innings.
All of the statistics count, and the game will pick up in the 12th inning at an undetermined future date. Since the Orioles don't play on the South Side again this season, the game is likely to be resumed when the White Sox play at Baltimore Aug. 25-27.
"That would probably be the smartest thing to do,'' Konerko said. "I don't think anyone would have a problem with that.''
Even though the Sox erased a 3-2 deficit in the bottom of the 11th inning on Juan Uribe's home run off Orioles closer George Sherrill, the offense's lack of production bothered manager Ozzie Guillen as much as the lousy weather.
The White Sox had 9 hits and 8 walks off Baltimore starter Daniel Cabrera and five relievers, but they left 14 runners on base and were 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
"We stunk today,'' Guillen said. "We had so many guys on base and we failed to get clutch hits. We have a good offense, but I expect a lot better than that. We have to give the pitching staff a break.''
A.J. Pierzynski has been one of the Sox' better hitters this season, but the catcher was 0-for-6 against the Orioles and he left six runners on base.
"If I get just one hit, we probably win that game in regulation,'' Pierzynski said. "I (stunk).''
Vazquez pitched 8 strong innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits.
Vazquez turned a 2-1 lead over to Bobby Jenks in the ninth inning, but the all-star closer yielded a leadoff double to Brian Roberts, who promptly stole third base. Melvin Mora followed with an RBI single to tie the game.
The Sox had a great chance to win it in the 10th inning when Carlos Quentin led off with a double and tagged and advanced to third on Joe Crede's flyout to deep right field.
Brian Anderson was at the plate when Guillen called for a suicide squeeze bunt on a 2-1 pitch. Anderson failed to make contact and Orioles catcher Guillermo Quiroz easily tagged out Quentin trying to score.
"It was tough for hitters and guys in the field,'' Anderson said of the weather. "It was bad, but I've got to get the job done there. I was looking over the heart of the plate and the pitch sunk in. I wasn't able to get it down and that's my fault.''
If there's a bright spot for the Sox, they hit the road for two games at Minnesota and four more at Toronto, and both stadiums are domed.
"I'm tired of playing in Chicago in this weather,'' Guillen said.
White Sox 3, Orioles 3
At the plate: Carlos Quentin (3-for-4, 1 RBI) extended his hitting streak to eight games. He also hit his sixth home run, one more than he had with the Diamondbacks all of last season. Juan Uribe's solo home run in the 11th inning was his first in 61 at-bats. Alexei Ramirez (.121) was 0-for-3.
On the mound: Javier Vazquez allowed 1 run on 4 hits in 8 innings. He came out after throwing 100 pitches. Bobby Jenks allowed 1 run on 2 hits in the ninth. Both of his blown saves this season have come vs. Baltimore.
-- Scot Gregor
Scouting report
White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome
TV: Channel 26 today; Comcast SportsNet on Wednesday
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Pitching matchups: The Sox' Gavin Floyd (2-0) vs. Boof Bonser (1-4) today at 7:10 p.m.; Nick Masset (0-0) vs. Nick Blackburn (1-1) Wednesday at 12:10 p.m.
At a glance: The White Sox and Twins split two games at U.S. Cellular Field in early April. No shock here, the third game of the series was rained out. Minnesota has lost four of its last five while the Sox have won three of their last four. Floyd ranks second in the AL in opponent's batting average (.163). Paul Konerko has 14 career home runs at the Metrodome, the most at any visiting stadium. The White Sox were 4-5 at Minnesota last season.
Next: Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, Friday-Monday
-- Scot Gregor