No real way to spin it anymore for Sox

After yet another drab game courtesy of the White Sox’ offense, you couldn’t blame manager Ozzie Guillen for hitting the spin cycle.

Had a feeling it was coming after Twins starting pitcher Francisco Liriano threw his first complete game at any pro level Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field.

It was a no-hitter, and it wrapped up after struggling Sox designated hitter Adam Dunn lined out hard to shortstop Matt Tolbert.

Guillen praised Liriano is his postgame news conference after the White Sox’ 1-0 loss, he praised his starter, Edwin Jackson, and he said tomorrow is another day.

Then came the spin.

Guillen referenced Mark Buehrle’s perfect game in 2009, which came against Tampa Bay on July 23 and vaulted the Sox into first place in the AL Central at 50-45.

From there, the White Sox went 29-38 and finished third.

“Remember the last time we threw a perfect game?” Guillen said. “We were in first place and after that we couldn’t recover.”

So naturally, the opposite effect is in play.

The Sox are 11-20, good for last place in the division and a half-game behind the equally disappointing Twins (10-18).

Since they are the no-hit victims this time around, the good times should begin to roll any day now. Right?

Well, it’s difficult to even think about that after watching another abysmal display by the offense.

Yes, Dunn’s game-ending liner might have traveled 500 feet had he gotten it up in the air, but it didn’t happen.

And Carlos Quentin was twice robbed by standout defensive plays — center fielder Denard Span’s sprawling catch in the fourth inning and third baseman Danny Valencia’s nice grab and long throw in the seventh.

That’s the way it goes.

Give plenty of credit to Liriano for pitching over 6 walks while obviously ignoring the fact he came into the game with a 9.13 ERA.

“He made some great pitches,” Dunn said. “Whenever somebody like him is able to throw three pitches pretty much anytime in the count, you know you’re in for a tough day.

“But you know, they made some great plays defensively behind him. You hate tipping your hat, but sometimes you have to.”

And sometimes you have to look in the mirror.

If the White Sox haven’t been already, they should try again before wrapping up this two-game series against Minnesota Wednesday afternoon.

This supposed playoff-ready team is now batting .236 and continues to get little or no production from regulars Dunn (.157), Alex Rios (.164), Gordon Beckham (.208), Juan Pierre (.248) and Brent Morel (.187).

I’m not going to start another Greg Walker watch, or even suggest Guillen’s dismissal. It’s not going to happen now, and all jobs appear to be safe no matter what the rest of the season brings.

The Sox are going to continue to wait for the weather to warm and the bats to follow suit.

But now there is a dense layer of pressure that also is entering the mix.

As general manager Kenny Williams was pointing out the other day, when most big-money players look up on the scoreboard and see such low batting averages, they no longer try doing the little things needed to win games.

So instead of advancing a runner from first to second base, or second to third, the natural inclination is to swing away, hard, and hope for the best.

It has become a vicious cycle, and only captain Paul Konerko (.298) is immune.

As for the rest of the White Sox, well, maybe Liriano should feel a little less fortunate than most guys for throwing a no-hitter.

“We’ve got to get something going offensively to take the pressure off the pitchers,” Dunn said.

Facing a scuffling team or not, Liriano did become the first pitcher to no-hit the White Sox since the Royals’ Bret Saberhagen on Aug. 26, 1991.

“He was good,” Beckham said of Liriano. “And he threw a lot of off-speed stuff. He kept us off balance. It’s tough, but you’ve got to tip your hat. We swung at some bad pitches. I know I swung at a couple bad ones.

“We didn’t help ourselves much, but he was very good.”

sgregor@dailyherald.com