Bullpen's turned things around for Sox

Let's talk about the White Sox' pitching staff, not so much the decision to go with an unconventional six-man rotation.

Phil Humber did make another case to keep starting with another solid performance in Friday night's late game against the Athletics at Oakland.

While he initially was tagged as the odd-man out when Jake Peavy finally made his way back from the disabled list Wednesday, Humber got the ball again and shut the A's down for 6 innings in the series opener at the Coliseum.

Humber lost his rhythm in the seventh and allowed 4 straight singles, which allowed Oakland to cut the Sox' lead to 4-2.

That was it for Humber, but no worries.

The bullpen came through again, and the White Sox hung on for a 4-3 win.

Remember how bad the bullpen was in April?

To review, Sox relievers had a collective 5.55 ERA in the opening month, they blew 6 saves in 9 chances, allowed 9 home runs and opposing hitters put up a .281 average.

Heading into Friday, the bullpen bounced back with a 1.29 ERA in May, Sergio Santos converted the only 2 save tries and opposing hitters were batting .171.

The pen also had a run of five straight scoreless games, and they stretched that streak to six with the win over the A's.

Slowly but surely, roles in the bullpen are being defined.

Official title or not, Santos is the White Sox' closer, and the right-hander made it 4-for-4 in save conversions Friday night.

Santos pitched a perfect ninth inning and had 2 strikeouts. The right-hander has not allowed a run in 18 innings this season.

Matt Thornton, who opened the season as the Sox' closer, is back where he belongs in a setup role.

Thornton came on in the eighth inning with one out and nobody on, and he walked Coco Crisp.

After Crisp stole second base, Thornton got Daric Barton to ground out to first baseman Paul Konerko, moving Crisp to third.

With Conor Jackson at the plate, Crisp tried to steal home on a 1-1 pitch and Thornton let go of the ball in time for catcher A.J. Pierzynski to make the tag.

So Thornton got a hold, as did the Sox' other setup man, Jesse Crain.

Tony Pena (8.71 ERA) is the lone relief pitcher that is struggling, and he's lucky he still has a job after the Sox decided to waive Jeff Gray (2.70) when Peavy came off the DL.

Gray was claimed by the Mariners on Friday.

“(General manager) Kenny (Williams) felt, we felt Pena is on the way up,” Guillen told reporters. “Obviously you've got to pick between one another. We picked Pena and hopefully Pena starts pitching better for us.”

sgregor@dailyherald.com