Thornton saves Sox’ win, leading to questions
Every major-league manager has to deal with a closer controversy at some point, with the possible exception of Yankees skipper Joe Girardi and his predecessor, Joe Torre, thanks to the presence of Mariano Rivera.
It sure looks like Robin Ventura is making a change with his ninth-inning guy, but the White Sox’ rookie manager quickly, and calmly, diffused any confusion Sunday.
Hector Santiago has been the Sox’ closer during the opening month of the season, but the rookie left-hander has not pitched at all since squandering a 4-2 lead in the 14th inning Wednesday at Oakland.
While blowing his second save opportunity in six tries, Santiago’s ERA ballooned to 8.53.
The White Sox held a 4-1 lead in the ninth inning Sunday against the Boston Red Sox, and Ventura stuck with the left-handed Matt Thornton, who entered the game with two outs in the eighth inning.
Thornton got right-handed Dustin Pedroia to line out leading off the ninth before retiring a pair of left-handers — Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz — to end the game.
“It’s nothing against Hector; he’ll still be in there in the ninth,” Ventura said. “But you’re looking at a guy with a body of work against those three guys. I felt confident with Matt in there.”
Thornton earned his first save Sunday, and more opportunities might be coming. Ventura said he has several options at closer.
“There could be an occasion with Jesse (Crain) down that Addison (Reed) could be, at some point, given enough times facing somebody, that might be him at some point,” Ventura said.
Crain (oblique) is on the disabled list, so look for Reed to get a save try if an opposing team is stacked with right-handed hitters in the ninth inning.
Reed, a right-hander, has not allowed a run in 8 innings this season.
Dunn deal:
Adam Dunn crushed a 2-run homer to right field in the first inning Sunday, the first time he has gone over the fence at U.S. Cellular Field since Aug. 4.
On a 3-1 pitch from Josh Beckett, Dunn hit a 419-foot shot into the right-field bleachers.
“I feel good, getting myself in good hitter’s counts,” Dunn said. “I just haven’t been able to make them pay when I get in those good hitter’s counts. It’s a work in progress.”
Take a seat:
Second baseman Gordon Beckham, and third baseman Brent Morel were held out of the White Sox’ starting lineup Sunday.
An 0-for-10 slump has dropped Beckham’s batting average to .153. Morel, 2-for-11 in the first three games against Boston, is at .178.
With a day off today, Sox manager Robin Ventura can only hope an extended break helps both slumping hitters.
“I think a lot of it has become mental,” Ventura said. “It mounts up on them. These are just little mental breaks, giving them this day and they have (today) off and then they’ll be back at it.”