Sox can't catch up after another Richard implosion
After barely breaking a sweat Thursday afternoon, Clayton Richard is likely to pitch out of the bullpen this weekend when the White Sox visit the Metrodome for a big three-game series against the Twins.
It remains to be seen if Richard returns to the Sox' starting rotation following another abbreviated effort.
"That's the worst thing you can do, go out there for such a short time and really put your team in a big hole, and that's what I did," Richard said after the White Sox fell to the Cleveland Indians 10-8 at U.S. Cellular Field. "It's an awful feeling."
Awful is a fitting description for Richard's performance. The left-hander was pulled from the game with no outs in the second inning after giving up a single to Indians leadoff hitter Ryan Garko, walking Jamey Carroll and Ben Francisco to load the bases and then grooving a first-pitch fastball to No. 9 hitter Kelly Shoppach, who hammered it for a grand slam.
Sox manager Ozzie Guillen didn't seem to mind the the home run as much as the 3 walks Richard allowed in just 1 inning of work.
After Richard walked Carroll, Guillen made a rare early visit to the mound.
"I said, 'You know what? I really don't care if you get hit and they get you out of here by hitting, swinging the bat,''' Guillen said. "He couldn't find the plate. Like I said, I will take the blame, but he couldn't find the strike zone."
The "blame" would be for using Richard on three days' rest, but the 25-year-old pitcher wasn't feeling sorry for himself.
"I don't have any excuse whatsoever," Richard said. "I didn't pitch well. I got behind hitters, walked some guys, gave up a big home run and there is nothing to it except for execution."
Over his last 5 starts, Richard has allowed 21 earned runs over 18 innings (10.50 ERA), and he's failed to reach the sixth inning four times.
"This is definitely not a good groove," Richard said. "I just need to keep on working and progressing."
Does Richard deserve to keep his starting job after another rough outing?
"I don't know," Guillen said. "We don't have any other choice right now. Bartolo (Colon) is there (Class AAA Charlotte), but he isn't ready to pitch yet. That's going to be the last start for (Richard) until after the all-star break.
"Hopefully, he can get back in a groove. When he's out there, we have to support him. It's up to him to step it up and grab it. We did it with a couple guys and they did grab it. See what happens next start, if we're going to give him another start."
The Indians were leading 9-2 in the third inning, and Guillen said he was "one out away" from pulling veteran regulars like Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko.
But with two down in the third, the Sox rallied for 4 runs on 4 hits, highlighted by Chris Getz's 2-run double.
The White Sox cut the gap to 9-8 with 2 more runs in the fifth inning, and Cleveland had to call on closer Kerry Wood with two outs in the eighth while hanging on for a close win.
"Obviously it was a tough one," said Getz, who established a career high with 4 hits. "We were down 9-2, but I think it showed a lot that we battled. A lot of teams would have laid down, that's it. We made a game out of it."
Guillen appreciated the effort.
"It was interesting what kind of character, what kind of people we have in the clubhouse," Guillen said. "We battled back, we fight. Maybe a couple weeks ago, the game was over before the second inning. They should feel proud the way they played today."
Scot Gregor's game tracker
Indians 10, White Sox 8
Thursday's grade: C-. Clayton Richard and D.J Carrasco combined to allow 9 runs in the first three innings, but the Sox' offense almost picked them up.
Short stuff: Richard pitched just 1 inning, the shortest start for a White Sox pitcher since Jose Contreras lasted an inning on April 2, 2007, also vs. Cleveland.
Hit parade: Chris Getz reached a career high with 4 hits. Scott Podsednik, Jermaine Dye and A.J. Pierzynski had 2 hits apiece.
Pena debuts: In his first appearance since coming over in a trade from the Arizna Diamondbacks, Tony Pena pitched 1 scoreless inning.
Scouting report
White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome
TV: Comcast SportsNet today and Sunday; Channel 9 Saturday
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Pitching matchups: The Sox' John Danks (7-6) vs. Nick Blackburn (7-4) today at 7:10 p.m.; Gavin Floyd (6-6) vs. Glen Perkins (4-4) Saturday at 6:15 p.m.; Mark Buehrle (9-2) vs. Scott Baker (6-7) Sunday at 1:10 p.m.
At a glance: The White Sox close out the first half of the season with a big series against the Twins. The Sox are 4-2 vs. Minnesota this year, and all 6 games were played at U.S. Cellular Field. Last season, the Sox were 1-8 at Minnesota. Perkins was scratched from Wednesday's start vs. the Yankees due to illness and he might not be ready to go Saturday. If the lefty is scratched again, one of three relievers, Brian Duensing, Bobby Keppel or R.A. Dickey, are likely to start. New York completed a three-game sweep at the Metrodome Thursday, and the Twins remain 11/2 games behind the second-place White Sox.
Next: All-star break
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