Struggling Konerko plays hero with 15th-inning home run
Better late than never.
Paul Konerko was pondering that cliche in the waning moments of Wednesday night's game against the Royals at U.S. Cellular Field.
Already mired in a season-long slump, Konerko was looking to turn that around. And when he stepped to the plate in the 15th inning against Kansas City with the score tied at 4-4, the White Sox' captain was also looking for a way to end a very long night.
Mission accomplished, on both counts.
"It was more like relief,'' Konerko said after he hit a 2-run homer off Royals reliever Jimmy Gobble to lift the Sox to a 6-4 win. "I can't say I was happy. Just relief, because we won the game and I did something positive for the team. I've been doing some good things up there, you have to believe that.
"But I've failed enough already. I just want to help out. Things turn on a dime in this game, good and bad. I hope the good lasts a little longer.'
Konerko expressed some rare emotion after hitting the third game-ending home run of his career.
For the most part, he's kept his chin up and stuck to his time-tested routine this season. Still, the results were not there.
After going hitless in his first 4 at-bats Wednesday - Konerko also drew 2 walks - his batting average dipped to .199. It is still relatively early in the season, but that is dangerous territory for a veteran hitter.
Maybe Gobble was the right pitcher to get Konerko going the other way. After the clutch game-winner that easily cleared the left-field fence, Konerko is now a career 5-for-6 with 4 home runs against the Royals' left-hander.
"That wasn't really going through my head,'' Konerko said. "He was kind of erratic against Carlos (Quentin, who led off the 15th inning with a walk). I didn't want to make a stupid out. The pitch was in and down and I got the bat down.''
Gobble didn't think about pitching around Konerko.
"I wanted him,'' Gobble said. "I wanted to face him. I just (stunk).''
Konerko smelled like champagne and beer after the big home run, and his eyes were burning from a face full of shaving cream.
Even though the game ran 4 hours, 23 minutes, it was a raucous postgame clubhouse on the White Sox' side.
The reason? Konerko is a major part of the operation.
"I was so excited, I was on the third-base line shaking Paul Konerko's hand,'' said Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "Not just because we won. He needed that at-bat. It was big for him and it was big for the ballclub.''
Konerko wasn't the White Sox' only bright light Wednesday.
Another struggling veteran, Jim Thome, pulled the Sox into a 2-2 tie in the fourth inning with a prodigious 464-foot home run to straightaway center field. It was the ninth-longest drive ever at the Cell.
Alexei Ramirez was called out at home in the fifth inning when he failed to touch the plate, but the second baseman made four standout barehanded plays on defense, including a big one to retire the speedy David DeJesus in the 14th inning and preserve the 4-4 tie.
"He's turning into a special player,'' Konerko said.
And don't forget about the bullpen. After closer Bobby Jenks gave up 2 runs in the ninth to extend the game, Boone Logan and Octavio Dotel combined to pitch 5 scoreless innings.
"That's what we're here for,'' Dotel said. "That's why we're like a family. Bobby can go home and sleep good now.''
So can Konerko.
White Sox 6, Royals 4 (15)
At the plate: Slumping first baseman Paul Konerko hit a 2-run homer off Jimmy Gobble to end the game. Konerko is a stunning 5-for-6 lifetime vs. Gobble with 4 home runs. Jim Thome hit a 2-run HR in the fourth inning. The drive to center field carried 464 feet, the ninth-longest at U.S. Cellular Field. Joe Crede also homered and was 2-for-3 with 2 RBI before leaving in the 12th with a bruised wrist.
On the mound: Octavio Dotel got the win after pitching 2⅔ scoreless innings. He hit two batters but didn't allow a hit. Boone Logan pitched 2⅓ scoreless innings. Bobby Jenks blew the save while allowing 2 runs in the ninth.