For one night anyway, Sox don't need Quentin

No Carlos Quentin? No problem.

At least for one night, the White Sox didn't at all miss their star left fielder, who is in danger of missing the rest of the season after fracturing his right wrist Monday night at Cleveland.

"Teams deal with injuries," said starting pitcher Mark Buehrle, who got back on track Friday while pitching 6 shutout innings in the Sox' 10-2 trouncing of the Los Angeles Angels at U.S. Cellular Field.

"Obviously, he's been a big part of our team for the first couple of months," Buehrle added. "But guys go on the disabled list and other guys have to step up. It was kind of a freak accident, but we can't sit here and pout."

Instead the White Sox came out swinging against the Angels.

After missing the last three games with a stiff back, Ken Griffey Jr. put the Sox in front with a 2-run single in the first inning. In the second, Juan Uribe hit a 2-run homer to make it 4-0.

The White Sox put the game away in the third inning, as Paul Konerko led off with a home run and Uribe later added another 2-run shot.

Uribe is back at third base after Joe Crede went down - possibly for the season - with another back injury.

"When Uribe's hot, he can carry a ballclub," Guillen said. "You don't know how much power he's got, how good of a hitter he can be."

Guillen expects the first-place White Sox to complete the final push to the playoffs without Quentin or Crede.

"We have people out there that are professional, and they understand our situation," Guillen said. "Ask (Griffey), (Jermaine) Dye, P.K., they know they have to step up to protect our situation.

"This should give them more enthusiasm to go out and show people how good we can be without Quentin."

Quentin came from way out of nowhere this season, and the 26-year-old outfielder was leading the Sox in home runs (36) and RBI (100) before his intense nature backfired.

Sad, but so be it, was the resounding reaction from the White Sox.

"It's frustrating," Konerko said. "But we just have to move on. The bottom line is, even without him we have enough to win this division and get in the playoffs. It would definitely be a lot easier with him. We know that. But you've got to play with the cards you're dealt.

"We have guys to do the job. We have enough offense. We've already lost (starter) Jose Contreras, losing another pitcher is something that would probably be even more detrimental than losing Carlos as a hitter, because we can make up offense. A few guys can get hot and hold the fort down."

While the Sox have been losing some key players, they did get relief pitcher Scott Linebrink back against the Angels.

Making his first appearance since July 22 after being sidelined with a sore shoulder, Linebrink pitched 1 scoreless inning. The right-hander walked the first hitter he faced, Reggie Willits, on 4 pitches, but shortstop Alexei Ramirez helped Linebrink by starting a dazzling double play.

"I was a little nervous, but I like what I saw," Guillen said of Linebrink. "He was missing a little high, and he missed with some balls around the plate. But he said he felt good, and that's good news."

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=233089">Crede could be lost for the season <span class="date"> [9/5/08]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=232974">Self-inflicted injury sidelines Sox slugger Quentin <span class="date">[9/5/08]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>