Sox' Dunn placing blame on himself

The White Sox' bats were generally cold again in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Angels at U.S. Cellular Field.

Credit some very good pitching from starters Jered Weaver, Tyler Chatwood and Dan Haren for Los Angels' three-game sweep. That's what most of the Sox were doing before filing out for an 11-game road trip to Tampa Bay, Detroit and New York.

Slumping designated hitter Adam Dunn preferred placing the blame on himself.

While he's still less than two weeks removed from an appendectomy and trying to adjust to American League pitching after spending his first 10 seasons in the Senior Circuit, Dunn wants Sox fans to know better days are coming.

“You know, it's weird,” Dunn said. “I don't feel bad. I feel fine. I just stink. I have no reason. I'm not a big film guy but I looked at film.

“I'm swinging at bad pitches at the wrong time and taking the (good) ones. I'm not worried. I know it'll come around and hopefully it's tomorrow.”

To his credit, Dunn did hit a big 2-run homer off Weaver Friday night to cut the Angels' lead to 4-3.

But all in all, it was a miserable series and homestand for Dunn.

He was 0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts Sunday, dropping his batting average to .182. On the homestand, Dunn was 2-for-19 with 11 strikeouts.

Bad, but the Angels' starters were good, even the 21-year-old Chatwood Saturday.

“Those guys pitching have to make a living, too,” Dunn said. “It's kind of one of those things where every team every year is going through a 6-, 7-game losing streak whether it's April or whenever.”

The White Sox (7-8) have dropped four straight and are under .500 for the first time since June 19 of last season.

Don't blame the defense or bullpen for the current skid.

Over their last six games, against Oakland and Los Angeles, the Sox dropped five and batted .211 as a team.

Dunn is in the doldrums, but so are Juan Pierre, who popped out to left field with the bases loaded to end Sunday's game, Gordon Beckham (1-for-12 vs. the Angels), Paul Konerko, A.J. Pierzynski, Brent Morel and just about everybody else not named Alexei Ramirez.

Fans know what to expect from most Sox hitters, but they are still trying to figure out what Dunn is going to do.

“I've gone through this before and come out fine,” Dunn said. “We know what we're capable of doing. It seems like we were all hot at one time and now we're all slumping at once, or not swinging the bats like we're capable of doing. I know it's an old cliche that there are a lot of games left, but we've got to get our offense back on track.”

Dunn was actually booed after his last strikeout Sunday, which came leading off the eighth inning. Afterward, the DH wasn't bolting for the door to get out of town.

“I love playing at home,” Dunn said. “That's why they call it home and that's why it's homefield advantage. We just weren't able to take advantage of that.”