Not easy one to take for Buehrle, Sox
When the White Sox were closer to the beginning of their current slide, manager Ozzie Guillen gave slumping first baseman Paul Konerko the green light to step out and show a little anger.
Konerko took a pass.
Mark Buehrle did not.
After waiting out a one-hour, 44-minute rain delay and getting shelled by the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night at U.S. Cellular Field, Buehrle was lifted with two outs in the sixth inning.
The usually mild-mannered starting pitcher headed for the far end of the dugout, picked up Juan Uribe's bat and gave the heater five heavy blows.
The outburst didn't prevent the White Sox from being rolled by Minnesota 13-1 while losing for the 10th time in 14 games, but maybe Buehrle's actions will shake some life into the club.
"It's frustrating, it's embarrassing, all around,'' Buehrle said after allowing 7 runs on 9 hits and 3 walks. "Not just myself, but the way we've been playing. It was just one of those days where I couldn't hold my emotions back.''
Buehrle drained every ounce of anger, but not without a scare.
"It did (feel good) until it started smoking,'' Buehrle said of the obliterated heater. "Then I got kind of nervous. As far as getting it out of me, it felt pretty good.''
What about replacing Uribe's destroyed bat?
"No, he's got plenty,'' Buehrle said. "I'm going to have to replace the heater though. I told (clubhouse manager) Vinny (Fresso): 'Let me know what it costs. I'll have the check tomorrow.'æ''
The way Buehrle hacked at the dugout heater, maybe he can help the White Sox' struggling offense.
In his first career start against the Sox, Twins starter Livan Hernandez went the distance and had a shutout going until Jermaine Dye homered with one out in the ninth.
"He pitched well,'' White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said of the crafty Hernandez. "He's been pitching well most of his career.''
That was about the extent of the Guillen's credit.
"We played a very, very, very sloppy game from the beginning,'' he said. "Bad game. Bad pitching. Bad execution. In the field we didn't do what we're supposed to do. If you give those guys a chance to get you, that's what you get. They're a good ballclub.''
Right now the Sox are not. One glance at Buehrle's meltdown made that very clear.
"I've never seen him react like that,'' Guillen said. "It's kind of weird. Sometimes I'd rather get the anger out that way and don't let it carry to the next day. Everybody's reaction was kind of surprised, but I like that.''
Guillen didn't really like Twins center fielder Carlos Gomez hitting for the cycle in the lopsided win, but he came away impressed with the rookie center fielder.
"That kid's got a chance, I don't really want to say it, to make people forget about Torii Hunter,'' Guillen said. "He's got all the tools.''
About all the White Sox countered with was an angry Buehrle with a bat in his hands.
"It's everything kind of building up,'' said Buehrle, who has won only once in 7 starts this season. "It's not really one thing. The way I pitched, the way we're playing, there's a lot to it. I don't think I'm the only one who's frustrated in here. There are a lot of people that are frustrated.''
Twins 13, White Sox 1
At the plate: Minnesota leadoff man Carlos Gomez hit for the cycle. Oakland's Mike Blowers was the last player to single, double, triple and homer in the same game against the Sox, on May 18, 1998.
On the mound: Mark Buehrle took the loss after pitching 52/3 innings and allowing 7 runs on 9 hits and 3 walks. Octavio Dotel pitched 11/3 scoreless innings.
-- Scot Gregor