Sox rally past Indians despite Buehrle's struggles
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen had mixed feelings about Sunday's 8-7 comeback victory against Cleveland at U.S. Cellular Field.
On one hand, he was relieved to see his team fight back from deficits of 3-0 and 6-2 to avoid a series sweep at the hands of the last-place Indians.
On the other hand, the reason the Sox needed to rally in the first place was yet another disappointing start by once-reliable left-hander Mark Buehrle, who has been far from dependable lately.
Buehrle gave up 6 runs on 8 hits and walked three in only 3 innings. He threw 98 pitches and left the game trailing 6-2.
"I've never seen Buehrle throw 90 pitches in 3 innings ever," Guillen said. "Even if he tried to throw right-handed he can't do that."
Buehrle has endured a prolonged slump since he threw a perfect game last July 23, but he has been particularly imperfect the last month. He has a record of 1-6 in his last 10 starts with an ERA of 6.22. Sunday marked the second time this season the lefty allowed 6 earned runs in back-to-back starts.
Buehrle said his recent woes aren't the result of a physical problem. "I feel better than I have in a long time," he said. "I'm not tired."
Yet the results aren't there.
"I'm doing everything you're not supposed to do: falling behind in the count and having to throw fastballs," Buehrle said. "I was trying to throw a strike and they're getting basehits."
Fortunately for the Sox, reliever Tony Pena had Buehrle's back. The right-hander held the Indians scoreless on 3 hits over the next 3 innings, which allowed his teammates the opportunity to rally.
"Tony Pena has been awesome," Guillen said. "The last four of five games he threw have been outstanding. This kid saved the ballclub for maybe another week with the way he pitched. Every time we use him in that role he's doing a tremendous job."
Down 6-3, the White Sox rallied to tie it in the fifth inning. Alexei Ramirez and Gordon Beckham singled and advanced on Juan Pierre's sacrifice bunt. Ramirez scored on a sacrifice fly by Omar Vizquel, Alex Rios drove in Beckham with a single, and Mark Kotsay's line-drive single to right field knotted the score with two outs.
"There was no rallying speech or anything like that," said Paul Konerko, whose 2-run home run in the bottom of the first inning pulled the Sox within 3-2. "Guys just went up and took pride in their at-bats, went hard at it and it just all came together."
Carlos Quentin delivered the game-winning hit in the seventh, a two-out, bases-loaded single up the middle that staked the Sox to their first lead, 8-6.
After J.J. Putz pitched a scoreless seventh, reliever Matt Thornton allowed a run in the top of the eighth. But closer Bobby Jenks slammed the door by retiring the Indians in order in the ninth. Jenks struck out pinch hitter Russell Branyan looking to seal his ninth save.
<p class="factboxheadblack">Jerry Fitzpatrick's game tracker</p>
<p class="News"><b>Pauly heating up:</b> Paul Konerko went 1-for-2 with 2 walks and a 2-run home run. The Sox captain, who tied Harold Baines and Eddie Collins for sixth place in games played in franchise history (1,670), is hitting .435 (10-for-23) with 2 doubles, 3 home runs and 9 RBI in his last seven games.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Comeback kids?</b> The Sox notched their 14th comeback victory this season after trailing 6-2. It was the largest deficit the team has overcome to win in 2010.</p>
<p class="News"><b>The quote:</b> "I don't worry about Buehrle. I worry about me getting fired because of him," said smiling Sox manager Ozzie Guillen after Buehrle gave up 6 runs and threw 98 pitches in 3 innings.</p>
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