Danks bounces back in 3-2 loss to Angels

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen put John Danks on notice before Sunday's game. One more rough start and Guillen would consider skipping the 23-year-old lefty the next time through the rotation.

Of course, whether the Sox have a capable fill-in for an already short-handed starting staff is another question. Guillen's message also was delivered to the media and may not have reached Danks personally.

Either way, Danks came through with a better performance, shutting out the Los Angeles Angels for 5 innings. He couldn't hold a 2-run lead, though, and the Angels pulled ahead in the eighth inning to salvage a 3-2 victory at U.S. Cellular Field.

The White Sox' lead in the American League Central remained at 2 games because Minnesota lost again to Detroit.

Following the game, Guillen indicated Danks would keep his spot in the rotation. In his previous 2 starts, Danks lasted just 4 innings against both Cleveland and Baltimore.

"Given the situation that we're in right now in the pennant race and given my last couple starts, I haven't helped the team," Danks said. "I've actually hurt the team more than I've helped. I didn't ever think about getting skipped or whatnot, but I felt like I needed a good start today.

"For my sake, hopefully today was good enough."

Danks was certainly decent against the Angels. Through 5 innings, he allowed just 2 hits and struck out seven. The White Sox led 2-0 thanks to solo home runs from Paul Konerko and backup catcher Toby Hall.

But Danks' third trip through the heart of the Angels' order was unpleasant. He surrendered a double to Mark Teixeira, a single to Vladimir Guerrero and a double to Torii Hunter. That's when Danks departed, and the Angels tied the score one batter later on an RBI groundout by Juan Rivera.

"The sixth inning I think (Danks) just started leaving the ball up," Guillen said. "The last 2 outings he had before, that was the problem he had. - He threw the ball better today."

Through his first 19 starts of the season, Danks posted a 7-4 record and 2.67 ERA. Since then he has gone 3-4 with a 5.04 ERA but felt there were encouraging signs Sunday.

"It was a little better command than I've had," Danks said. "It wasn't where it was early in the year when I was lights out. But I think it's there. I feel great and it's just a matter of doing it. I'm not going to be what I've been my last 3 starts the rest of the year."

Sox reliever Horacio Ramirez was tagged with the loss after giving up a single to Gary Matthews Jr. and a double to Teixeira to start the eighth.

Ehren Wassermann came in to pitch and limited Los Angeles to just 1 run, on a sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Garret Anderson.

In the ninth against super- closer Francisco Rodriguez, Konerko singled and pinch runner Dewayne Wise moved to second with two outs. But Nick Swisher took a called third strike to end the game, a pitch that appeared on replays to be below the knees.