Finally! Buehrle gets first win since perfect game

Posted September 07, 2009 11:00 pm

Scot Gregor

Mark Buehrle finally made his way back to the winner's circle Monday at U.S. Cellular Field.

By guiding the White Sox to a 5-1 decision over the Boston Red Sox in a holiday matinee, Buehrle got his first victory since July 23, when he pitched a perfect game against Tampa Bay.

"Some guys joked around and said I have to buy them something like I did on the perfect game no-hitter," Buehrle said. "Getting beer showers. But it's nice to go out there and score some runs. Overall, it was a well-played game."

And it was another win, the fifth in six games for the White Sox.

With just 23 to play, they'd need a miracle finish to catch the first-place Detroit Tigers, who have won six straight and hold a 71/2-game edge over the third-place White Sox.

Manager Ozzie Guillen is letting himself dare to dream - just a little.

"I think it gives you more hope," Guillen said. "Every time you win a game, you hope a little bit better. You hope a little bit more. In your mind, you're still competing.

"Like I say, you never know what's going to happen in the game."

What has happened so far is the White Sox have won three of four home games against the Red Sox and the New York Yankees this season. They also won two of three from the Los Angeles Angels at the Cell in early August.

But the White Sox went 1-6 at Boston and New York on their last road trip, and they also dropped two of three at Minnesota before returning home and blanking the Cubs in a makeup game at Wrigley Field.

"I think we know we can play with everybody," Buehrle said. "Obviously, I think most teams play better at home than they do on the road. But that last road trip just killed us.

"You've got to win on the road to be in the playoffs, and we haven't played as well on the road this year. It is what it is."

The White Sox are 39-31 at home but only 30-39 on the road.

As for Buehrle (12-7), he pitched 7 innings against Boston and allowed 1 run on 8 hits while outdueling Red Sox ace Josh Beckett (14-6).

It was the first win in 9 starts for the ace left-hander, but the Sox scored 2 runs or fewer in 5 of them.

"I had a couple bad games in there, but I had some good games and gave us a chance," Buehrle said. "It seems lately I've been going up against some good guys, opposing pitchers that are doing what they're supposed to do and holding us to no runs.

"Any time you're going up against a (CC) Sabathia or Beckett, you know you have to be on your game to hold them and give your team a chance to win."

Buehrle did just that against the Red Sox, and the White Sox jumped out to a 3-0 lead against Beckett in the third inning. Mark Kotsay had the key hit, a 2-run single.

"Buehrle always gives us a chance to win the game," Guillen said. "In the past he didn't get his teammates support. We didn't score that many runs for him. I think maybe one game he didn't have anything, but today was another good game for him."

Scot Gregor's game tracker Buehrle's back: Mark Buehrle pitched 7 innings and allowed 1 run on 8 hits while winning for the first time since his July 23 perfect game, a span of 9 starts. Keep Kotsay? Manager Ozzie Guillen has been raving about Mark Kotsay, who was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI. A free agent at the end of the season, Kotsay is batting .444 with 7 RBI in his last five games. Feeling blue: Boston dropped three of four to the White Sox, the first series the Red Sox have lost at the Cell since 2002. White Sox scouting report White Sox vs. Oakland Athletics at U.S. Cellular Field TV: Comcast SportsNet Plus Tuesday; Comcast SportsNet Wednesday Radio: WSCR 670-AM Pitching matchups: The Sox' Carlos Torres (1-0) vs. Brett Tomko (3-3) Tuesday; Freddy Garcia (1-2) vs. Trevor Cahill (8-12) Wednesday. Both games start at 7:11 p.m. At a glance: After winning three of four from Boston, the White Sox wrap up their homestand with a short series vs. the A's. The Sox are 3-4 against Oakland this season (1-3 at home). Gordon Beckham (sore right side), who hasn't started since Saturday, could be back Tuesday. He is batting .400 (6-for-15) against the A's this year. Next: Los Angeles Angels, Friday-Sunday at Angel Stadium