Guillen tired of talk that Sox can't beat tough foes

Posted July 20, 2009 11:00 pm

Scot Gregor

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen's eyes and ears were burning Monday.

Guillen was annoyed after reading and hearing all about the Sox barely winning 2 of 3 against the last-place Baltimore Orioles to open the second half of the season.

All season Guillen has read and heard similar things about the supposedly weak AL Central.

Well, Monday night was the first of 18 straight games against teams with winning records, and Guillen and the White Sox were eager to prove they are a legitimate contender.

"I think we're a good team," Guillen said. "I think if you look at our lineup, look at our players, I don't know why people out there think we're bad. I think we have the right people out there, I think we have the right frame of mind to compete.

"Like I always say, if you want to be the best you have to beat the best. I like to compete against good ballclubs. I think we're ready to handle it."

In front of a sellout crowd at U.S. Cellular Field on half-price ticket night, the Sox hung on for a 4-3 victory over Tampa Bay.

The Rays, who represented the American League in the World Series last season, loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth inning before White Sox closer Bobby Jenks struck out Jason Bartlett on a 3-2 cutter to preserve the win.

The Sox are 20-10 since June 13, the second-best record in the AL behind the Angels (22-9).

"We're winning series, and that's kind of the focus," said leadoff man Scott Podsednik, who was 3-for-3 with 2 doubles, 2 runs scored and a stolen base. "There was a lot of energy in the ballpark tonight. It's nice when you take the field and the fans are into it."

The crowd gave Carlos Quentin a standing ovation when he came to the plate in the first inning after coming off the disabled list earlier in the day.

And the crowd really erupted when Paul Konerko hit a 3-run homer off Rays starter David Price in the third inning, putting the Sox in front 4-1.

"Good win, good start to the series," Konerko said. "On the home run, it was a slider down and over the plate and in a little bit. I was able to get the head of the bat on it."

Tampa Bay chipped away at the lead, and the Rays looked to be in good shape in the eighth inning with runners on first and second with one out in a 4-3 game.

At that point Matt Thornton replaced Scott Linebrink, and Bartlett was cut down trying to steal third base. Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski has struggled throwing out basesstealers for years, but he made a perfect throw to get Bartlett.

"We had a party after the game," Guillen said after Pierzynski also caught Carl Crawford trying to steal in the first inning. "But a lot of it has to do with the pitchers. A lot of times they don't give (the catcher) a chance."

The Sox survived the eighth and ninth innings to pull within 1 game of the idle Detroit Tigers.

"Our schedule from now on is tough," Guillen said. "But I think the way we're playing right now we'll be fine."

Scot Gregor's game tracker Monday's grade: B+. Carlos Quentin is back, but Paul Konerko provided the big hit with a 3-run homer in third inning, and then the bullpen hung on. Catch and throw: A.J. Pierzynski threw out a pair of Tampa Bay basestealers. Coming in, the Sox' catcher was 4-for-59 on the season. Ahead of the game: After driving in 62 runs last season, Konerko already has 64 RBI this year. Run, Carl, run: Carl Crawford hit an inside-the-park home run in the fourth inning, only the third time that has happened at new Comiskey Park/U.S. Cellular Field.