Torii Hunter's HR leads Angels over White Sox 3-2
The White Sox are 6 games behind Detroit in the AL Central race but have six games remaining against the Tigers. So there's a chance.
But a better showing this week would have helped.
Detroit broke a five-game losing streak by beating Toronto on Sunday. While the Tigers were going 1-5 since Tuesday, though, the Sox went 2-3 and didn't gain much ground.
Against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, the Sox never added to an early 2-run lead and lost 3-2 when Torii Hunter hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning.
"We had the opportunity to be closer when (the Tigers) had a bad week," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen told reporters after the game.
"But we also had a bad week. We had to take advantage when they were playing bad, and we didn't. That's why we are where we are right now."
Speaking of bad, Mark Buehrle (12-8) has had that sort of luck since throwing his perfect game on July 23.
He allowed just 2 earned runs in 7 innings against the Angels but took the loss. In 10 starts since the perfect game, Buerhle has won just once and posted a 4.69 ERA.
Hunter owned a career .225 batting average against Buehrle heading into the game but sent a 2-2 cutter into the left-field bullpen for the game-winner.
"My fastball didn't have much velocity today," Buehrle said. "I was trying to come in with it and I kind of left it up and over the plate. He might have been looking there. But when you make a mistake like that, they're supposed to take advantage of it."
The way Hunter described the swing, he was able to overcome a poor prediction.
"He threw a cutter in, and I was able to get my hands in," Hunter said. "Actually, I guessed wrong. I was looking changeup because he struck me out on a 2-2 changeup my second at-bat. It was 2-2 again, and I said, 'He'll throw another one.' My mind said something else, but my hands said, 'No.' "
The Sox (71-73) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on Carlos Quentin's two-out, 2-run single. But the Sox couldn't generate any more scoring against Scott Kazmir and a trio of relievers.
The visitors left nine men on base. In the last four games the White Sox are 5-for-35 with runners in scoring position.
"Today, we swung the bats good, we just didn't get hits," Guillen said. "Buerhle threw the ball real well. I'm not disappointed in the way we swung. I'm disappointed in the way we lost."
<p class="News">Mike McGraw's game tracker</p> <p class="News"><b>Perfectly poor result:</b> Mark Buehrle allowed just 2 earned runs in 7 innings, but his slump continued. The lefty has won just 1 of 10 starts since throwing a perfect game July 23. Torii Hunter's solo home run in the seventh was the difference.</p> <p class="News"><b>Takes more than two:</b> The Sox took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Carlos Quentin's 2-run single but couldn't add to it. They left nine on base and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.</p> <p class="News"><b>Losing Tigers' trail:</b> The loss dropped the Sox 6 games behind AL Central leader Detroit, which beat Toronto on Sunday.</p>