Sox stay on a roll as Thome powers 6-2 win

Posted June 01, 2009 11:00 pm

Scot Gregor

Believe it or not, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and die-hard Cubs fans have something in common.

They both are sick of 2005 - the year the Sox won the World Series.

"I think a lot of people are still living in 2005," Guillen said. "This is 2009 and we're still talking about 2005. That's four years of failure."

Actually it's three, working on No. 4.

On May 18, the White Sox lost their fourth straight at Toronto to fall seven games under .500. At that point, they looked like obvious failures.

But the Sox started turning it around the next day, and they've gone on a gradual surge.

Opening a season-long, 12-game homestand against Oakland on Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field, the White Sox rallied for a 6-2 victory over the Athletics.

More important, the Sox have won 10 of 13 and are back at the .500 mark (25-25) for the first time since May 3, when they were 12-12.

What has sparked the turnaround?

"(Scott) Podsednik, and Alexei (Ramirez) has done a nice job," said designated hitter Jim Thome, who broke the game open with a 3-run homer in the eighth inning. "Jermaine (Dye) is having a heck of a year, and Paulie (Konerko), too.

"The pitching deserves a lot of credit, but you really have to credit the top of the order because they're getting on base."

In 2005, Podsednik and Tadahito Iguchi formed a lethal 1-2 punch at the top of the order and sparked the Sox all season. Podsednik is back in the leadoff spot, and since Ramirez has been following him in the No. 2 spot, the White Sox are 8-2.

The duo was just 1-for-7 Monday, but Podsednik walked twice and scored 2 runs.

It's obvious that a new tone is being set, and big hitters Thome, Dye, Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski are making the most of the opportunities.

Add in a solid all-around effort from the pitching staff - White Sox starters have yielded 3 earned runs or fewer in 13 of the last 14 games, and the bullpen has allowed just 1 earned run in the last 141/3 innings - and one begins to see some similarities to the 2005 club.

Guillen certainly isn't ready to make that comparison, but he is happy to be back at the break-even point.

"We were so far behind that it was kind of hard to get back here," Guillen said. "But that's not the goal of this ballclub; the goal is to win the division.

"We had a meeting today and said try to keep it going as long as you can. It's exciting to be at .500 because were so far away. Now we have to keep the ball rolling."

Sox starter Gavin Floyd allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings. He struck out eight and walked three. Associated Press

Gregor's game tracker Monday's grade: B+. Outside of one pitch to Matt Holliday in the first inning, White Sox starter Gavin Floyd was sharp. And Jim Thome's 3-run homer in the eighth was another clutch shot. Biggest moment: With the score tied 2-2 in the seventh, Floyd struck out former Sox shortstop Orlando Cabrera with the bases loaded to end the inning. A.J. is OK: Catcher A.J. Pierzynski was 2-for-4 with a solo HR. Over his last seven games, Pierzynski is batting .520 (13-for-25). On tap: The A's called up RHP Vin Mazzaro from Class AAA Sacramento to start tonight's game. It'll be the 22-year-old's first major-league start. Mazzaro faced the Sox in spring training and allowed 7 runs in 2 innings.

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