Danks sank, but White Sox able to manage a split

All things considered, the White Sox have to be feeling pretty good about coming away from Tuesday's doubleheader against the Mariners with a split.

The Sox managed just 2 hits in Game 1 against Seattle starter Chris Jakubauskas but still emerged with a 2-1 win. In Game 2 the White Sox had only 6 hits against starter Felix Hernandez and reliever Roy Corcoran while falling 9-1.

The Sox played both games without designated hitter Jim Thome (sore left heel) and second baseman Chris Getz (fractured finger). "When we don't have people in the lineup, the other guys have to pick it up a notch," manager Ozzie Guillen said.

Paul Konerko did, going a combined 3-for-7 and driving in all 3 of the Sox' runs.

Bartolo Colon made the most of the meager support in the opener, but John Danks finally looked human in his Game 2 start. After allowing just 2 runs over 19 innings in his first 3 starts, Danks allowed 5 runs on 8 hits over 4 innings.

"I felt really good," Danks said. "It's frustrating to have good stuff and give up some hits. They're a good team; they hit the ball. But I've had worse stuff this year and pitched better. It's just baseball."

The White Sox (10-10) are a .500 team as they near the end of the opening month, but they've looked bad in several of their losses by scores like 14-0, 9-0, 10-3, 12-5 and Tuesday's 9-1.

"It seems like every time we lose, it's a big one," Guillen said. "But we have a couple of guys banged up and we're hanging in there."

In Game 1, Colon (2-1) pitched 7 innings and allowed 1 unearned run to spark the Sox' win.

Colon didn't get much offensive help, and Jakubauskas was working on a no-hitter until Carlos Quentin singled with one out in the fourth inning behind a Josh Fields walk.

After Jermaine Dye flied out, Konerko's 2-run double produced all of the White Sox' scoring. Quentin and Konerko delivered the Sox' only 2 hits in the game.

"Well, when you win the game, and you have more errors than you have hits, that's a miracle," Guillen said. Actually, the Sox had the same number of errors as hits.

Second baseman Brent Lillibridge made a costly one in the seventh inning, allowing the Mariners to cut the Sox' lead to 2-1 while putting runners on second and third with one out.

But Colon stepped up and got Franklin Gutierrez and Yuniesky Betancourt to pop out to Konerko at first base.

"Even though we didn't play good defense, pitching made the game," Guillen said. "Colon threw tremendous. Those two guys battled in a pretty good game. Their guy threw the ball pretty good, too."

Scot Gregor's game tracker

Tuesday's grade: D. The White Sox split the doubleheader, but only because of Bartolo Colon in Game 1. John Danks didn't have it in the nightcap, and the offense was brutal in both games.

Deep drop: Brian Anderson started both ends of the doubleheader (he batted leadoff in Game 2) and was 0-for-7. That dropped his average from .349 to .300.

Next: Lance Broadway, the latest candidate to audition for a spot in the White Sox' bullpen, could be headed back to Class AAA Charlotte after allowing 2 runs on 5 hits over 21/3 innings in Game 1. He also made an error.

On tap: Gavin Floyd starts for the Sox today, and he needs to straighten up at home. Both of Floyd's losses this season have come at the Cell, and the right-hander has allowed 7 earned runs in 111/3 innings.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=289906">Colon makes quick work of Mariners<span class="date"> [4/28/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>