Buehrle, Sox survive to play another day
Back and forth, up and down.
Like it or not, that has been the White Sox' modus operandi from the start of the season until Sunday, which was supposed to be the end date.
It could have been, but the Sox headed south while losing five straight and falling one-half game behind the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central.
Bouncing back behind starting pitcher Mark Buehrle in Sunday's 5-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians at U.S. Cellular Field, the White Sox now have an opportunity to get hot and slip into the playoffs.
"We didn't have any choice," manager Ozzie Guillen said after the Sox avoided being sent home. "It's something you feel good about it. At least we have another shot; we have two shots.
"I think we just needed a win. I told the coaching staff, 'If we win one game, we might free up a little bit and feel a little better about ourselves.'
"Hopefully that situation happens. The only thing we can do is just win the next two games and play the best we can the next two days. I'll take my chances playing here."
Still a half-game behind the Twins, who beat the Kansas City Royals 6-0 at the Metrodome on Sunday, the Sox play a makeup game against the Detroit Tigers today at 1:05 p.m.
If they win to force a first-place tie, the Sox will host Minnesota, expected to be a night game Tuesday, to determine the division champion.
If the Sox lose today, their season is over.
"It's good that we can control our own fate," said Buehrle, who pitched 7 innings and allowed 1 run on 9 hits while working on three days' rest. "We can keep on winning these games and keep on going. We put ourselves in this situation so we have to battle out of it."
The White Sox put up a fight in the first two games against Cleveland, but the pitching staff sabotaged any chance of victory. Not only were starters John Danks and Javier Vazquez ineffective, the bullpen was battered for 9 runs in 9 innings.
Buehrle and relievers Matt Thornton and Bobby Jenks were able to reverse the trend Sunday.
"Buehrle, he knew we needed this game bad," Guillen said. "I think the amazing thing about the game today about Buehrle, it's not about what he did to hold those guys, it's how many pitches he threw.
"He got into trouble a couple of times; we turned a couple of double plays. Buehrle stepped it up in a big situation for us."
Buehrle threw 121 pitches Wednesday at Minnesota and came back with 111 pitches against Cleveland.
"I felt good the whole time," said Buehrle, who got a huge boost from 4 double plays. "I know I was falling behind the count there in the last couple innings. Ozzie was probably worried about the pitch count from the game before, and it was getting up there today.
"I was going to maybe try to talk him into another inning, but he didn't come over and even question me. He just came over and said, 'You're done.' "
Thanks to Buehrle - and big hits from Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko, A.J. Pierzynski and Orlando Cabrera - the White Sox are not done.
"Guys know how to get ready to play and keep going until they can't go anymore," Dye said. "We won't quit and we won't give up. We will keep fighting. Tomorrow, it's win or go home. We know that. It's in our hands now."