Déjà vu in Toronto for Buehrle, White Sox
TORONTO -- The symmetry was obvious Friday night at Rogers Centre, and that's not a good thing for the White Sox.
Last season the Sox staggered into a four-game series on the Blue Jays' home turf, and Mark Buehrle started the opening game.
The White Sox lost that one 2-0 to fall under the .500 mark at 24-25. Thanks mainly to an ineffective offense, the Sox went on to lose 17 of their next 22 and were never heard from again.
Guess who was on the mound Friday? Yep, Buehrle. And take a guess at the final score. Same as last year, 2-0 Toronto.
"That's the second time they've broken this kid's heart," manager Ozzie Guillen said after the White Sox' losing streak reached a season-high three games. "It's a shame when our pitching staff is doing real good and we're not helping them to win games.''
In his 2-0 loss to the Blue Jays on May 31 of last season, Buehrle allowed only 2 hits -- solo home runs to Frank Thomas and Aaron Hill.
This time, the Sox' left-hander gave up 2 unearned runs on 5 hits over 8 innings.
Toronto scored both runs in the first inning. With two outs, Scott Rolen was safe at first on third baseman Joe Crede's throwing error. Vernon Wells followed with a ground-rule double and Shannon Stewart drove in both runners with a single up the middle on a 3-2 pitch.
"When a mistake is made, you've got to capitalize on it," Wells said of a rare Crede error. "We were able to do that tonight and the 2 runs held up.''
As for the Sox' offense, it was another dismal night.
Jays starter Shaun Marcum was pitching with an upset stomach, but he made White Sox hitters look ill while pitching 6¿ innings and allowing 2 hits. The right-hander also had 9 strikeouts.
Both hits off Marcum were Orlando Cabrera singles. The Sox' team average plunged to an American League-low .237.
The White Sox also are 6-for-46 with runners in scoring position over the last six games. Those are the kinds of numbers that get hitting coaches -- in this case Greg Walker -- fired.
For now, Guillen said he's dropping Jermaine Dye to the No. 6 spot in the order, and Pablo Ozuna is replacing Juan Uribe at second base.
Cleanup hitter Paul Konerko (sore right hand) missed his second straight game Friday, but he's expected to be back in the lineup today.
Cabrera led off the fourth inning with a single, but Marcum struck out Jim Thome, Dye and A.J. Pierzynski.
In the seventh, Carlos Quentin and Crede drew consecutive two-out walks off Marcum, who was pulled.
Jeremy Accardo came on and walked Brian Anderson to load the bases, but Uribe (.163) flied out to right field to end the threat.
Before the game, the White Sox called up relief pitcher Adam Russell from Class AAA Charlotte. Russell replaced utility man Alexei Ramirez, who is on the restricted list with a visa problem while the Sox are in Canada.
Blue Jays 2, White Sox 0
At the plate: The Sox managed only 2 hits off Toronto starter Shaun Marcum and four relievers. Orlando Cabrera had both of them, a single in the fourth inning and a single in the sixth. Jim Thome was 0-for-3 with 3 strikeouts and 1 walk. Jermaine Dye was 0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts.
On the mound: Mark Buehrle pitched 8 innings and allowed 2 unearned runs while taking the hard-luck loss.
In the field: Cabrera made two standout plays at shortstop. The first came in the sixth inning, when he made a diving stop up the middle and started a double play. The second came in the seventh, when he barehanded a Gregg Zaun grounder and threw to first base for the out.