Loss a painful one as Sox fall further back

DETROIT - Tuesday was a bad night for the White Sox, on numerous fronts.

Let's start with their 9-1 loss to the Tigers. The Sox' seven-game winning streak, all on the road, came to a screeching halt at Comerica Park, and it also cost them a critical game in the AL Central standings because the Twins won again.

Like the White Sox, Minnesota has won seven of its last eight and leads the division by 41/2 games.

"We won seven games in a row and the only game we picked up was the day we didn't play (Thursday) and they lost," catcher A.J. Pierzynski said.

"What can you do? You go out and play as hard as we can. Nobody is giving up. Nobody is panicking. Everyone is busting their tail every day and we are trying to win every game.

"If it works out, it works out. There's nothing you can do. When you are behind, you have to hope for help and win every game."

Not only did the Sox lose to Detroit on Tuesday, starting pitcher Freddy Garcia made his second straight early exit with a stiff lower back.

Garcia had to leave after 2 innings. In his previous start (at Cleveland last Wednesday), he lasted just 4 innings before the back went out.

"I have no idea what I've got," Garcia said after allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and taking the loss. "I was warming in the bullpen fine, but the game is different.

"When you throw in the bullpen, you go 70 percent. But when you go in the game you want to go harder. Obviously, I wasn't able to do it."

Garcia's next scheduled start is Sunday against the Kansas City Royals, but he is questionable at best.

"Every time I land with my left foot, it pinches," Garcia said. "When I (lean forward), I feel it."

It was a crowed trainer's room Tuesday night.

Gordon Beckham (sore right hand) and Paul Konerko (back) were held out of the starting lineup, but Konerko should be back Wednesday.

Manny Ramirez also had to leave after being hit on the left wrist by a pitch from Detroit reliever Robbie Weinhardt in the eighth inning.

Ramirez, who said he was fine afterward, also was hit by a Justin Verlander pitch in the sixth.

Detroit pitchers have hit four White Sox hitters in the first two games of the series, and it appeared Sox reliever Carlos Torres was trying to retaliate in the eighth inning when he threw inside to Casper Wells.

But instead of plunking Wells, Torres' pitch got past Pierzynski and hit Angel Campos flush in the mask, knocking the home-plate umpire to the ground.

It was that kind of night, but White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen tried to stay upbeat.

"Well, I will take 7-1 again," Guillen said. "I will take 7-1 and see what happens. That's part of the game. We all know that Minnesota is playing well now. They've got a good ballclub, but I will take 7-1 and take a chance with that."

<p class="factboxheadblack">Scot Gregor's game tracker</p>

<p class="News">Tigers 9, White Sox 1</p>

<p class="News"><b>New guys:</b> The Sox emptied the bench in the lopsided loss. Reliever Gregory Infante made his major-league debut, as did infielder Brent Morel. Lucas Harrell, Carlos Torres, Tyler Flowers and Dayan Viciedo also got in the game.</p>

<p class="News"><b>Manny a target?</b> Manny Ramirez was twice hit by pitches, and the second one forced him out of the game with a sore left wrist. Ramirez also was hit Sunday at Boston.</p>

<p class="News"><b>Take a walk:</b> Viciedo drew his first major-league walk in the ninth inning. The rookie infielder failed to get a walk in his first 82 plate appearances.</p>

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<li><a href="/story/?id=406448">Hand pain worse, so Beckham sits<span class="date"> [9/7/10]</span></a></li>

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