Treanor, Rangers flog Floyd in Sox' 9-5 loss

Over the first six weeks of the season, the White Sox had the pitching but they couldn't hit.

Now, it's the exact opposite.

There has been only one constant from the opening game, and that's been the losing.

"We haven't put it together," said Paul Konerko, who homered twice and drove in 4 runs in the Sox' 9-5 loss to the Rangers on Wednesday night at U.S. Cellular Field. "When the pitching was there early we didn't have the hitting. Lately, it's been the reverse."

A day after they teed off on White Sox starter Mark Buehrle, Texas made quick work of Gavin Floyd.

The Rangers scored 3 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks in the first inning and 2 runs on 2 hits and a walk in the second.

After giving up a leadoff home run to Matt Treanor and a two-out double to Elvis Andrus in the third inning, Floyd (2-6) was gone.

"I was trying to get outs and it seems like they were hitting everything," Floyd said after the shortest start of his career at the Cell. "I guess it's kind of tough to understand. I want to go deep; my goal is to go deep and keep us in the game."

After getting rocked by the Rangers, Floyd's ERA rose to 6.64.

"I don't remember, maybe the first year in his career here, seeing him this bad," said Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "Bouncing balls, behind the hitters, getting hit hard. I think that's the first time I remember him pitching this way. This kid, every time he'd go out there we'd have a chance.

"All of the sudden nothing's working for him. I tried to stay with him as long as I can because the bullpen is very thin. I couldn't."

Floyd is having a miserable season, and he's hardly been the innings eater the Sox were expecting. After Wednesday's early exit, Floyd is averaging just 5.5 innings pitched per start.

John Danks has been the "workhorse" so far, averaging 6.5 innings per start. Jake Peavy is next at 6.3, followed by Mark Buehrle (6.1), Freddy Garcia (5.7) and Floyd.

Is it any wonder Guillen is so concerned about his overworked bullpen?

"I'm very disappointed and my heart has been broken a lot this year," Guillen said. "There's not doubt just because my expectation was pretty high for this ballclub, especially from the starters. It's still high for this ballclub. We've got a better ball club than what we've shown."

<p class="factboxheadblack">Scot Gregor's game tracker</p> <p class="News">Rangers 9, White Sox 5</p> <p class="News"><b>Homefield advantage?</b> The Sox lost their third straight game at U.S. Cellular Field and are 3-8 in their last 11.</p> <p class="News"><b>Get 'em early:</b> Gavin Floyd took the loss after allowing 6 runs on 8 hits in 22/3 innings. Over the first three innings this season, Floyd's ERA is 7.63.</p> <p class="News"><b>Heating up:</b> Paul Konerko homered twice and drove in 4 runs. The White Sox' captain has 8 hits in his last 13 at-bats.</p> <div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=385354">Sox to remain loyal to sponsor BP<span class="date"> [6/2/10]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>