McPherson happy to be back in bigs with Sox
Dallas McPherson didn’t start in Tuesday night’s game against the Texas Rangers at U.S. Cellular Field, not that it really mattered.
The 30-year-old infielder was just thrilled to be back in the big leagues.
“It was great to hear the news,” McPherson said. “I’ve got to be honest, I wasn’t sure I’d hear those words again.”
When the Sox placed Mark Teahen (strained right oblique) on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 12, McPherson had his contract purchased from Class AAA Charlotte.
McPherson played a major role in his first game with the White Sox.
Pinch hitting for Brent Lillibridge with Gordon Beckham on first base and one out in the eighth inning, McPherson singled. The hit advanced Beckham to third base, and he scored the go-ahead run on Cody Eppley’s wild pitch.
It was McPherson’s first hit in the majors since Sept. 10, 2008, when he played with the Florida Marlins. McPherson also had stints with the Angels in 2004-06, but a bad back has hampered him throughout his career.
“I knew I wanted to keep playing baseball and I felt like I still could,” McPherson said. “My back was obviously going to tell me whether I could or not. Luckily, right now it’s holding up. That’s all I can really ask for and pray it continues that way.”
McPherson batted .305 with 9 doubles, 3 home runs and 18 RBI in 31 games with Charlotte.
Pierre takes a seat:Mired in a 5-for-33 slump, White Sox left fielder Juan Pierre got Tuesday night off. Brent Lillibridge replaced him and batted leadoff.#147;A lot of people worry about Juan; so do we,#148; manager Ozzie Guillen said. #147;But Juan was worse last year around this time. He was struggling and he started to play better. This guy is a professional and he knows how to come out of that.#148;Guillen said Pierre, who has just 2 stolen bases in his last 34 games, will be back in the starting lineup against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night.Viciedo watch:By going 2-for-3 with Class AAA Charlotte on Tuesday, right fielder/first baseman Dayan Viciedo hiked his batting average to .322.More impressive, he is batting .431 in May.The White Sox could use a potent bat in the lineup, but Carlos Quentin is blocking Viciedo in right field and Paul Konerko is entrenched at first base.Manager Ozzie Guillen said calling up Viciedo now would be a waste.#147;If Viciedo is here, he has to play every day,#148; Guillen said. #147;There#146;s no reason why you call him up then you have to sit him down. You have to open a spot.#148;Indians arrive:The White Sox have a lot of ground to make up in the AL Central, and they#146;ll get a crack at the surprising first-place Indians on Wednesday and Thursday night at U.S. Cellular Field.#147;I said this, if those guys pitch a little bit, they#146;re going to be dangerous because those guys are pretty athletic,#148; manager Ozzie Guillen said. #147;They have a lot of speed. If you get good pitching and you put a good bullpen out and you add all those things together, you#146;re going to have a chance to win.#147;They#146;re pitching well, the bullpen is throwing the ball well, they#146;ve got clutch hitting, they are what they are. Right now they#146;re playing very well, and I don#146;t blame them to be up there because they#146;re playing with confidence.#148;