Peavy looks good in return for Sox

Following a 10-month absence, Jake Peavy returned to the mound in Wednesday night's 6-4 victory in 10 innings over the Angels in Anaheim, Calif.

Peavy was hoping for two things going in — a solid debut for himself and an energized effort from the White Sox.

Big check marks on both.

Peavy certainly didn't perform like he did while winning the Cy Young Award in 2007 when he was with San Diego.

But he probably was a little better than expected following such a long layoff.

The right-hander Sox wound up pitching 6 innings and allowed 4 runs on 7 hits.

When Jesse Crain relieved Peavy in the seventh inning, the White Sox deservedly trailed 4-1.

They knocked Los Angeles starter Tyler Chatwood all over Angel Stadium, but the Sox stranded nine runners though the first five innings, and Adam Dunn's mammoth solo home run in the third was all the run support Peavy had to work with.

The White Sox also were sloppy on defense, making Peavy's pregame comments seem worthless.

“You can put all the expectations you want on it, and I'm not going to do that, other than I expect to win on my fifth day and bring the best out in my guys to bring the intensity and edge that we're going to get after it,” Peavy told reporters Tuesday.

It took some time, but the White Sox finally showed the intensity and edge late in the game, rallying for a win in 10 innings.

Trailing 4-2 in the ninth, the Sox got to Angels closer Jordan Walden for 2 runs. Omar Vizquel's sacrifice fly sent the game into extra innings.

In the 10th, the White Sox capped the comeback when Alexei Ramirez scored from third base on Kevin Jepsen's wild pitch and Dunn scored on Brent Lillibridge's sacrifice fly.

The defense was shaky early, but the game ended with a highlight play from first baseman Paul Konerko that resembled teammate Mark Buehrle's remarkable flip for an out against the Indians on Opening Day last season.

With two outs, the Angels' Torii Hunter dropped a bunt that Konerko snared and flipped behind his back to Matt Thornton.

Catching the ball in stride, and with his bare hand, Thornton beat Hunter to the bag and the Sox took two of three in the series.

It turned out to be a good night all around, and it all started with Peavy, who threw 87 pitches in 6 innings, 64 for strikes. His fastball topped out at 93, and Peavy's slider also was effective.

The most important thing was that Peavy looked close to 100 percent.

“Hopefully, this gives us more confidence, and we got the man that people always wanted to be out there,” Guillen said.

sgregor@dailyherald.com