Offense going nowhere as Sox get swept away
After losing 7-1 to the Texas Rangers at home May 10, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen looked ahead to a six-game trip to Cleveland and Toronto.
"I think we're going to hit. We have good enough hitters out there to get it going," Guillen said. "And I expect to have a better road trip than the last road trip (1-4) we had. I expect better things from them, and hopefully it's a wake-up call for us to start playing better baseball."
Guillen usually can sense when the Sox are on the verge of breaking out, but he was way off on this projection.
The White Sox lost to the Blue Jays 3-2 Monday and were swept in the four-game series. They went 1-6 on the road trip and limp back to U.S. Cellular Field tonight with a five-game losing streak.
"We're not playing good," Guillen told reporters after the Sox lost their 10th straight at Toronto dating to 2007. "It's kind of a crazy week. I can't describe it.
"We're losing games in different ways all the time, late in the game, early in the game, by a lot of runs, by little runs. There's so many different ways to lose, you can't describe each of them."
In the latest loss the White Sox wasted a good effort by starting pitcher Clayton Richard. The lefty worked 7 innings and allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits and 3 walks but had nothing to show for it.
"He kept us in the game," said Guillen, who missed the middle two games of the series to be at his son Ozzie Jr.'s college graduation. "I'm really excited about what he did for himself and for the ballclub."
Trailing the Jays 2-0 in the eighth inning, designated hitter Jim Thome tied it up with a 2-run homer off reliever Jesse Carlson.
But Toronto rallied in the bottom of the eighth against Octavio Dotel. The reliever, previously unscored upon in 121/3 innings this season, got into immediate trouble by walking leadoff hitter Jose Bautista.
Marco Scutaro's sacrifice moved him up a base, and Bautista stole third with one out. Alex Rios tripled past diving center fielder Scott Podsednik to give the Blue Jays the four-game sweep.
"You can't keep bad things in your mind," Dotel said. "Bad things, you've got to throw away as soon as possible and just look for the next day. Today is over; there's nothing we can do right now. We've just got to think about tomorrow."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Scot Gregor's game tracker</p> <p class="News"><b>Monday's grade:</b> C. The White Sox lost their 10th straight in Toronto on Monday, but at least they made the Blue Jays earn this one.</p> <p class="News"><b>The quote:</b> "We should be embarrassed; we should feel bad. I think we're a better ballclub than what we've showed." Manager Ozzie Guillen after the Sox lost for the 12th time in 15 games.</p> <p class="News"><b>Run away:</b> The White Sox scored just 8 runs vs. the Jays while being swept in the four-game series. They were 2-for-23 with runners in scoring position.</p> <p class="News"><b>On tap:</b> The Sox haven't been hitting against anybody lately, but Twins right-hander Scott Baker has struggled this season, allowing 5 or more earned runs in 4 of his 6 starts.</p> <p class="breakhead">Scouting report</p> <p class="News">White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins at U.S. Cellular Field</p> <p class="News"><b>TV:</b> Comcast SportsNet today and Thursday; Channel 26 Wednesday</p> <p class="News"><b>Radio:</b> WSCR 670-AM</p> <p class="News"><b>Pitching matchups:</b> The Sox' Mark Buehrle (5-1) vs. Scott Baker (1-4) today at 7:11 p.m.; John Danks (2-3) vs. Francisco Liriano (2-4) Wednesday at 7:11 p.m.; Bartolo Colon (2-3) vs. Nick Blackburn (2-2) Thursday at 1:05 p.m.</p> <p class="News"><b>At a glance:</b> The White Sox return home from a miserable 1-6 road trip. They are 8-8 at the Cell. The Sox won two of three home games from the Twins in April. Left fielder Carlos Quentin (sore left foot) might be able to return tonight. He has 2 HRs and 4 RBI vs. Minnesota this season.</p> <p class="News"><b>Next:</b> Pittsburgh Pirates, Friday-Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field</p>