Jenks falters but Kotsay delivers as Sox top Tigers 6-4
DETROIT - The White Sox won the game Thursday, but it was another losing battle for closer Bobby Jenks.
And the obvious question after the Sox' 6-4 decision over the Tigers in 11 innings at Comerica Park is this: Has manager Ozzie Guillen finally lost patience with Jenks?
"You know, ask Bobby what he wants to do," an exasperated Guillen said. "I don't know. I don't say we've lost confidence, but in the meanwhile when you're the closer you give up 1 run. The last three times he blew the game, he gave up 3 or 4 runs.
"Right now, I don't know yet. Like I keep saying, when Bobby's the closer our bullpen is better. But right now I've got to wait and see what I'm going to do the next couple of days."
Called on to protect a 4-1 lead after Mark Kotsay hit a 2-run homer in the top of the ninth, Jenks gave up a one-out single to Don Kelly and hit Ramon Santiago with a pitch.
After striking out Austin Jackson, the right-hander hung a 1-1 pitch, and Detroit's Ryan Raburn hit it over the left-field fence to tie the game.
"That's going to happen," Jenks said. "You're going to give up home runs. What I'm mad about is the 1-2 curveball (that hit Santiago). That's the at-bat that ruined my day. It's not the home run. Without that, it's still a 1-run game. That's the frustrating part."
Guillen has become overly frustrated with Jenks, who has allowed 9 earned runs in 72/3 innings since the all-star break.
Jenks has been defiant this season when his job security came up. He immediately dismissed his latest clunker.
"It's a key with anyone in this role," said Jenks, who could be replaced as closer by Matt Thornton, J.J. Putz, Sergio Santos or a combination of the three.
It could have been a long flight to Baltimore for the White Sox, but Kotsay had other ideas.
Publicly challenged (along with Andruw Jones) by Guillen before the game to start producing, Kotsay singled in the second inning and hit the big home run in the ninth.
But the left-hander saved the best for last, a 2-run triple off Detroit closer Jose Valverde with one out in the 11th to decide the outcome and give the Sox their third win in the four-game series.
"I think Kotsay, for most of the year he's been hitting the ball very well but with no luck," Guillen said. "This game's about results and today he came up big. We needed that."
Kotsay needed the confidence boost, but he has dealt with his season-long slump surprisingly well.
"It's not easy," Kotsay said after raising his batting average from .215 to .223. "I mean, every time you struggle you get to see the true character of somebody.
"I think in this locker room these guys know the amount of effort, the amount of work, I put in on a daily basis to help this ballclub. It just hasn't seemed to pan out, but today it felt good."
As for Jenks and his 5.13 ERA, his role remains to be seen.
"It doesn't matter," Jenks said. "I know it's very cliché, but it's very important that we did get that win.
"In the big picture, that inning means nothing as long as we got the win. As cliché as it might be, that's the fact of what happened today."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Scot Gregor's game tracker</p>
<p class="News">White Sox 6, Tigers 4 (10)</p>
<p class="News"><b>The hero:</b> With 5 hits in his last 42 at-bats entering the game, Mark Kotsay was put on notice by manager Ozzie Guillen. Kotsay responded with his biggest game of the season, singling in the second inning, hitting a 2-run homer in the ninth and adding a 2-run triple in the 10th.</p>
<p class="News"><b>The goat:</b> Bobby Jenks allowed 3 runs in the ninth inning and blew the save. Since the all-star break, Jenks has allowed 9 earned runs in 72/3 innings.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Santos steps up:</b> Sergio Santos replaced Jenks and pitched 2 scoreless innings to earn his first major-league win.</p>
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