Maddon’s frustration showing in loss to Sox

Think Rays manager Joe Maddon is a little frustrated by his club’s miserable start?

In the sixth inning of Sunday’s loss to the White Sox, Maddon lost it when a call was overturned and Dan Johnson’s run-scoring single was ruled an out.

After being tossed by umpire Dana Demuth following an animated argument, Maddon gave his own ejection signal to Demuth before pointing at the other three umpires and tossing them out of the game as well.

“A lot of things happen in Chicago,” Maddon said. “It goes back to the Roaring Twenties. and it’s in the present day. We just happen to be the culprits right now.”

Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, among others, enjoyed the entertaining scene on the field.

“Awesome, I love it,” Guillen said. “When you go out there, do it with passion and that’s what he did. Protecting his players, he showed his players how much he cares about them, especially the way they are playing. This guy is one of the top managers in baseball. He knows what he’s doing. I think this shows his players how much he’s behind them.”

Getting closer:Adam Dunn took batting practice before Sunday#146;s win over the Rays.It was the first time the White Sox#146; new designate hitter has seen live pitching since having an appendectomy after last Tuesday#146;s game at Kansas City.#147;It was good to get out of solitary confinement and hang out with the general population, you know what I mean?#148; Dunn joked afterward.Might the hulking slugger be ready to play Monday?#147;I don#146;t know,#148; Dunn said. #147;I#146;m done making those bold predictions. I feel better than I did (Saturday), which is good. But again, the guys that are looking at me are a lot smarter than I am. I just want to be ready when I#146;m in the lineup, whenever that may be.#148;Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday returned to the lineup Sunday after missing seven games following an appendectomy. Dunn has missed five games and, unlike Holliday, he doesn#146;t have to play defense.#147;It#146;s been a battle,#148; Dunn said of being sidelined. #147;I feel like I#146;m being punished. It#146;s kind of like you#146;re being punished, being grounded and you don#146;t know what you did. I hope it never, ever happens again.#148;Unless his appendix miraculously regenerates, Dunn doesn#146;t need to worry.Closing time:The White Sox didn#146;t need a closer Sunday thanks to their lopsided win over the Rays, but manager Ozzie Guillen reiterated that Matt Thornton remains the primary option in the ninth inning.#147;I#146;ve got three or four guys who can close,#148; Guillen said. #147;I#146;ve got (Jesse) Crain, (Sergio) Santos, (Chris) Sale and Thornton. Don#146;t be surprised when you see one of those guys. We may do it because somebody needs rest or we like the matchup better. There#146;s a lot of things going through our minds about who is going to be pitching that inning.#148;