Getz, Beckham starting to produce
In their most crushing defeat of the season on Thursday, the White Sox didn't exit Wrigley Field completely down.
The Sox continued to get solid offense from their two rookies at the bottom of the order - second baseman Chris Getz and third baseman Gordon Beckham.
Getz, who committed 2 errors, doubled twice in 4 at-bats and drove in a run. On Wednesday, the left-hander had an RBI triple and a walk.
Beckham was 2-for-2 with 1 RBI and a walk Thursday after going 1-for-3 with a walk in the opener. The right-hander raised his batting average from .114 to .175 in the abbreviated series.
"The bottom of the lineup did a tremendous job, Beckham and Getz," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "They played well."
Beckham said playing two games in such a pressurized atmosphere can only help his promising career.
"If you are in one of those games and you can compete, then you can do it on a regular basis no matter what," the 22-year-old infielder said. "I think today was great for me personally because I got a little more confidence and I'm still building it. I wish we could have got a win, but we will regroup and come back tomorrow."
No credit due: After scoring just 2 runs in the first 16 innings of the series, the Cubs broke out with 4 runs on the eighth Thursday and the game-winning run in the ninth.
Were the North Siders due to break out?
"I don't know, we just made bad pitches," Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "We didn't hit our rotations and fell behind a couple guys. I don't know. I haven't paid enough attention to know how they've been doing or how they haven't been doing.
"It doesn't matter who you're playing. You have a 4-run lead in the eighth with two outs, you should win the game, and we didn't get it done today."
Dye hurting: Jermaine Dye was lifted from both games against the Cubs for pinch-runner Dewayne Wise, and manager Ozzie Guillen said the veteran right fielder might be held out of tonight's game at Cincinnati with a sore left calf.
"We'll see how that feels," Guillen said. "Hopefully with a day off he'll feel better, but we're going by ear. We gave him back-to-back days off (Monday and Tuesday) and that didn't help him. I have to be careful with him. If Dye goes down, (Carlos) Quentin is already down, it will be tough on us."
Personal catcher? Since coming back from Class AAA Charlotte, Jose Contreras has won two straight starts while pitching 16 scoreless innings and allowing just 3 hits.
Contreras is back on the mound tonight in Cincinnati and manager Ozzie Guillen said Ramon Castro is going to be back behind the plate.
Castro has caught both of Contreras' return games.
"I will stick with them," Guillen said. "I feel more comfortable. I think they get along real well. A.J. (Pierzynski) caught Contreras when he won a lot of games, bur right now, we feel comfortable with Castro so I can give A.J. a day off."
White Sox vs. Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark
TV: Comcast SportsNet today and Saturday; Channel 9 Sunday
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Pitching matchups: The Sox' Jose Contreras (2-5) vs. Bronson Arroyo (7-5) today at 6:10 p.m.; Clayton Richard (2-1) vs. Johnny Cueto (6-4) Saturday at 6:40 p.m.; Mark Buehrle (6-2) vs. Aaron Harang (5-6) Sunday at 12:10 p.m.
At a glance: The White Sox are coming off a tough loss to the Cubs, but they've got their hottest pitcher going in the series opener. Contreras is 2-0 since coming back from Class AAA Charlotte and he hasn't allowed a run in 16 innings. The Sox are 8-3 in their last 11 road games. The White Sox have swept the Reds in three-game series the last three times they've played (2000, '01, '06).
Next: Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday-Thursday at U.S. Cellular Field