'Just one of those days' for Sox in 14-0 drubbing
Ozzie Guillen played 13 seasons for the White Sox, and he has been managing since 2004.
Add it up and it has been well over 2,000 games of baseball. Rarely has Guillen seen one as bad as Friday night's 14-0 loss to the Blue Jays at U.S. Cellular Field.
"We stink today," Guillen said. "We couldn't do anything. We couldn't hit, we couldn't catch the ball, and we couldn't pitch. When you put all those things together, that's the result."
Sox starter Gavin Floyd and relievers Jack Egbert and Clayton Richard were roughed up for the 14 runs on 21 hits and 7 walks.
The White Sox managed just 6 hits off Toronto starter Brian Tallet and two relievers, and shortstop Alexei Ramirez and center fielder Brian Anderson each made an error.
Oh, yeah, the Jays stole three bases with ease, and Floyd further helped their cause with 2 wild pitches.
"All in all, this is one of the worst games I hope I see this year," Guillen said. "It's one of the worst games I've seen as a manager. I might have seen worse, but I don't remember."
The surprising Blue Jays, who improved to 13-5, jumped on Floyd (2-2) in the first inning, scoring 3 runs on 2 hits, an error and a walk.
The game was pretty much over at that point.
"I always say it's all about pitching," Guillen said. "Pitching dictates the way the game is going to be played."
Floyd lasted just 41/3 innings, allowing 6 runs (5 earned) on 9 hits and 5 walks.
"Struggled today," Floyd said after his ERA jumped from 4.74 to 5.79. "I made pitches, some pitches, and they got basehits. And I ended up walking some guys. I tried to keep attacking, but it wasn't a sharp performance.
"I'm going to try to say it just was one of those days."
Egbert followed Floyd and was hammered for 6 runs on 7 hits and a walk in 12/3 innings.
"He came in and tried to shut it down and couldn't," Guillen said.
After the game, Egbert (27.00 ERA) was optioned back to Class AAA Charlotte. The Sox will make a corresponding move before tonight's game against Toronto.
Ramirez made his first error of the season, but he could have been called for two more. A 1-for-3 showing at the plate actually lifted the shortstop's average to .167.
"I worry about him," Guillen said. "I hope he doesn't take his bat to the field. I will never criticize my players about making errors, but it seems like he's pressing too much.
"I don't like what I see today. I don't like his attitude. He was kind of head down and feeling sorry for himself."
Scot Gregor's game tracker
Friday's grade: 0.00. Name any facet of the game and the Sox stunk it up.
The turning point: Trailing 4-0 in the third inning, the Sox loaded the bases with one out. Rather than get back in the game, Jim Thome struck out on three pitches and Jermaine Dye grounded out.
Biggest cheer: Relief pitcher Jack Egbert got it in the sixth. Of course, after allowing 6 runs on 6 hits, they were of the mock variety when the inning finally ended.
On tap: Tonight's starter, Mark Buehrle, is a career 3-0 (2.61 ERA) vs. Toronto at U.S. Cellular Field.
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