Floyd, Sox can't hold lead, Mariners win 6-4
There was a big reason why the White Sox claimed Alex Rios off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.
General manager Kenny Williams has been trying to find a quality center fielder since he traded Aaron Rowand to the Philadelphia Phillies for Jim Thome on Nov. 25, 2005.
Given Rios' track record with the Jays, it looks like the search finally is over.
When he joins the Sox today in Seattle and likely makes his debut Wednesday night, maybe Rios can help his new team go on an extended roll.
"We've been very inconsistent all year long," manager Ozzie Guillen said after the White Sox lost to the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.
"Obviously, we're better than bad. But it's unpredictable. We play three games bad, four games good, then go back and forth. We've been like that all year long."
The Sox have been much more bad than good on the road lately, and they have now dropped 11 of their last 13 away from U.S. Cellular Field after Monday night's 6-4 loss to the Mariners at Seattle.
Maybe the White Sox still was digesting the news on Rios.
"They should like it," Guillen told reporters before the game. "(Jake) Peavy and now Rios, that means the owner (Jerry Reinsdorf) and GM show them how much they want to win. Every time you add somebody to help, the players should be happy."
In Monday's game, Sox starter Gavin Floyd sailed through the first three innings while retiring Seattle in order.
But the Mariners took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on 3 hits and a walk.
The White Sox came back and tied the game in the fifth inning when backup catcher Ramon Castro drilled a 2-run double with two outs off Seattle starter Luke French.
The Mariners went ahead in the bottom of the fifth on Ichiro Suzuki's RBI single, but Carlos Quentin's 2-run double against relief pitcher Sean White put the Sox back in front in the sixth inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, Russell Branyan tied the game with a solo home run off Floyd.
The White Sox' starter was pulled after walking Jack Wilson, and Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima greeted relief pitcher Tony Pena with a 2-run homer to put Seattle in front 6-4.
Scot Gregor's game tracker
Mariners 6, White Sox 4
Monday's grade: C-. The road woes continue.
Big moment: In the sixth inning, Carlos Quentin hit a 2-run double to put the Sox in front 4-3. But with Paul Konerko on third base and Quentin on second with one down, Alexei Ramirez struck out and Jayson Nix grounded out.
On tap: John Danks opposes Doug Fister tonight in the second game of the series. It's the first major-league start for Fister, who pitched 1 inning of relief Saturday in his major-league debut.
Did you know? In his last five games with the Toronto Blue Jays, Alex Rios was 4-for-16 with 2 HR and 5 RBI.
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=312919">Rios another big piece for White Sox <span class="date"> [8/10/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>