Pierzynski's bat, arm productive
A.J. Pierzynski batted .500 in his attempt to keep two game balls from the White Sox' 6-3 win over Seattle on Wednesday afternoon.
The first ball? The Erik Bedard fastball he looped over the right-center field wall in the second inning for his 100th career homer.
"It's sitting right there," Pierzynski said, pointing toward his locker. "It's a number I never thought I'd reach, to get to 100 home runs."
The second ball? The one he used to throw out Adrian Beltre at second for the White Sox' first caught-stealing of the year.
Pierzynski raised his arms in triumph as he headed to the dugout after the strike-'em-out, throw'em-out.
"We did get it," Pierzynski said with a smile. "But I think Bartolo (Colon) threw it in the stands goofing around."
Prior to Beltre's failed attempt, Sox foes had gone 22-for-22 this season. That included 17 straight against Pierzynski, who got off a throw on just 8 of those steals.
"I said, 'How does a guy make $8 million throwing one guy out every 20 times?" Sox manager Ozzie Guillen joked. "I told my kids, you should be a catcher."
But seriously, Pierzynski had been fighting himself both offensively and defensively.
His 3-hit afternoon (he lined singles to right field in the sixth and seventh) ended an 0-for-14 run at the plate.
"I said after the game it was just nice to contribute today," Pierzynski said. "I felt like I haven't really done much to help this team this month."
>Anderson out?
The Sox announced after the game that Anderson had a mild oblique strain and will be day to day, but Ozzie Guillen seemed more conservative.
"When you pull an oblique muscle, it's kind of tough," Guillen said. "I'll go by ear (Thursday) and then we'll see what happens Friday and figure out how many days."
Join the crowd: With his injury, Brian Anderson moves into lineup purgatory with second baseman Chris Getz (fractured right middle finger) and designated hitter Jim Thome (left heel).
Ozzie Guillen said he expects Getz to return to the lineup for Friday's series opener at Texas, while Thome either will start or hit the disabled list retroactive to April 26.
Oh, that A.J.: Lots of White Sox can't wait to see former teammate Brandon McCarthy on the mound for Texas in Friday's series opener.
McCarthy made a bunch of friends before being traded to the Rangers for John Danks in December 2006. After two injury-plagued seasons, McCarthy stands 2-0 this year with a 5.32 ERA.
"McCarthy and I got along great," said catcher A.J. Pierzynski. "We still talk all the time. It's going to be funny to face him, though. I can't look at his face or I'll probably start laughing.
"Brandon's great. I still give him a lot of back-and-forth. I have bragging rights this year because Florida killed LSU (in college football) and are national champions."