Floyd's 9th-inning homer sinks White Sox
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The White Sox have been on an extended roll, even though they've continually spun their wheels when it comes to scoring runs.
Manager Ozzie Guillen has issued warnings from time to time about the Sox' standout pitching staff needing some offensive support.
After the Sox lost to the Rays 2-1 Friday night at Tropicana Field, Guillen sounded the alarm again.
"This type of game happens when your offense doesn't do what it's supposed to do over the course of nine innings,'' Guillen said. "We continue to struggle with runners in scoring position. We need the offense to pick it up and help the pitching staff.
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"We've been winning a lot of games, but it's hard when you're up by 1, up by 2.''
The White Sox were tied at 1-1 with Tampa Bay when reliever Scott Linebrink came on to pitch the ninth inning.
At the time, it looked like extra innings were coming because Linebrink entered having pitched 13#189; straight scoreless innings in May. The right-hander was also unscored upon in 13¿ road innings for the season.
To say it was shocking that Rays leadoff hitter Cliff Floyd greeted Linebrink with a game-winning home run would be pretty accurate.
"Just one pitch,'' Guillen said. "(Linebrink) threw it in the wrong spot. The reason we're in first place, I don't want to say 100 percent, is Linebrink.''
Linebrink actually thought he made a good pitch to Floyd.
"Sinker down and in,'' Linebrink said. "He went down and got it. It was a pitch I wanted to do. I executed it, so I can't feel bad about it.''
Linebrink doesn't feel great about Sox pitchers almost constantly having to be flawless because of the inconsistent offense.
"That's the kind of game we're playing these days,'' Linebrink said. "When we go out there, we don't expect to have wiggle room. We're just trying to get out there and throw up scoreless innings and get back in the dugout as fast as we can.''
The White Sox had plenty of good scoring chances against Tampa Bay starter James Shields. To wit:
bull; In the second inning, Jermaine Dye led off with a single and Jim Thome followed with a walk before Paul Konerko struck out. Joe Crede came through with a single to load the bases, but Nick Swisher grounded into a double play.
bull; The Sox also failed to score after Alexei Ramirez led off the third with a single and Orlando Cabrera singled. After twice failing to get a bunt down, A.J. Pierzynski struck out and Carlos Quentin grounded into a double play.
bull; Dye led off the fourth inning with a double and only made it to third base.
Ramirez's one-out homer in the fifth was all the offense the White Sox mustered.
"I wish I had the answer for that,'' said Swisher, who is batting .203. "We were getting to Shields early, but we just couldn't get the big hit. Keep battling, keep grinding it out and see where this thing takes us.''
Jose Contreras had another solid start, allowing 1 run on 5 hits over 7 innings.
"Great,'' Guillen said. "Outstanding. It's a shame when you waste outings like that.''
Rays 2, White Sox 1
On the mound: Scott Linebrink took the loss after allowing a home run to Cliff Floyd leading off the ninth inning. Starter Jose Contreras pitched 7 innings and allowed 1 run on 5 hits. Contreras has given up only 6 earned runs over 35 innings (1.54 ERA) in his last 5 starts.
At the plate: The Sox were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Alexei Ramirez (2-for-4) hit a solo home run in the fifth inning.