Danks goes distance for first time as pro

Posted September 28, 2009 11:00 pm

Scot Gregor

As the White Sox look ahead to 2010, general manager Kenny Williams is likely to spend the off-season revamping the bullpen again and hunting for another outfielder or two.

The Sox' starting rotation looks like it's going to be the strength next season, and John Danks showed why at Cleveland Monday night.

The game was meaningless in the standings - both the White Sox and Indians are playing out the string - but Danks approached his start with a purpose.

He might be the No. 4 starter next year behind Jake Peavy, Mark Buehrle and Gavin Floyd, but Danks turned in an ace-like performance in the Sox' 6-1 win over Cleveland.

Nearing the end of his third full season, Danks (13-10) established a career high in wins while pitching his first complete game.

"It's the first time I've thrown a pitch in a ninth inning, so it was fun," Danks told reporters after throwing a 3-hitter.

Monday was the first time Danks went the distance at any level since being selected by the Texas Rangers in the first round (No. 9 overall) of the 2003 draft.

"They had such strict pitch counts (in the minor leagues) with Texas, and I haven't been efficient enough to do it in the majors," Danks said.

The 23-year-old lefty was working on a shutout until the Indians' Shin-Soo Choo led off the seventh inning with a solo home run.

Buehrle, originally scheduled to start tonight, is being replaced by Carlos Torres in an attempt to ease wear-and-tear. Buehrle could start at Detroit this weekend since the Tigers and Minnesota Twins are still battling for first place in the AL Central.

Floyd (sore left hip) hasn't pitched since Sept. 16 and is likely done for the season.

As for Danks, he had enough left in the tank to throw 115 pitches on a cold, windy night at Progressive Field.

"He came to me and said he wanted to do it," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen told reporters. "Our bullpen is a little worn out, so why not? I'm very careful about pitch counts and we had somebody warming up.

"Danks showed people we're out of it, but we can still give our all. Hopefully, this is the first of many complete games to come. You don't see young guys go all the way that much anymore."

There were plenty of young guys in the Sox' lineup Monday, and Gordon Beckham was again the best of them all.

The 23-year-old third baseman was 2-for-5 with 3 RBI. Beckham had an RBI single in the first inning off Indians starter Aaron Laffey (7-8) and a 2-run double off reliever Jensen Lewis in the ninth.

The White Sox have won two straight since Guillen tore into his team for watching college football following Saturday night's 12-5 loss to the Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field.

"We got to go out there and compete," Guillen said. "That's the reason I got mad Saturday. You're paid a lot of money to be here and you have to go through the season. I don't want you to go through the motions."

Scot Gregor's game tracker White Sox 6, Indians 1 Strong finish: Sox starter John Danks (13-10) pitched his first complete game and also established a career high for wins in a season. Rookie race: Third baseman Gordon Beckham drove in 3 runs, upping his season RBI total to 63 in only 99 game. Beckham is also batting .272 with 14 home runs. His main competition in the AL Rookie of the Year race is Rick Porcello. The Tigers' 20-year-old starter is 14-9 with a 4.14 ERA. Empty the bench: Josh Fields got the start at first base Monday and was 2-for-4 with a walk. Brent Lillibridge started at shortstop and was 2-for-3 with a walk and 1 RBI. Catcher Tyler Flowers was 1-for-3 with a walk.