Guillen confident in Sale

Chris Sale may only be a rookie pitcher, but he has made a strong impression since his major-league debut Aug. 6.

He notched his second career save with a scoreless ninth inning Friday against the Kansas City Royals. In Sale's 13 appearances, 12 have been scoreless, including seven in a row (81/3 innings pitched).

Manager Ozzie Guillen has a lot of confidence in the left-hander, especially in situations with the game on the line.

The timing couldn't have been better time with closer Bobby Jenks dealing with ulnar neuritis, caused by irritation of the nerve running behind his right-elbow joint. Jenks hasn't pitched since last Sept. 4.

"Bobby is not my closer right now," said Guillen before Saturday's game. "I am very happy with Sale. I am not saying (Jenks) has lost his job. We need to see how he is feeling. It is a process.

"(Sale) has shown me a lot of nerve, obviously everybody feels comfortable when they have the stuff; with that stuff I'd be comfortable, too.

"The kid just goes out and pitches. This guy has three pitches to strike out people. When you are a closer, you have to have at least one pitch to strike out people."

Guillen was hesitant, though to anoint this 21-year-old as his regular closer. He said the Sox are being careful about how they use Sale.

"I don't know if he is ready to be the closer," he said. "I don't know if this will be a long-term thing for next year and in the future. Right now he is doing a great job. The kid has good stuff."

A first-round pick, Sale is the first player from the 2010 draft to reach the majors and the first Sox pitcher to make his major-league debut in the year he was drafted since Alex Fernandez in 1990.

Still steaming: Ozzie Guillen remained a bit upset about Friday's game, when he was ejected by home-plate umpire Angel Hernandez after Hernandez called balks on starter Mark Buehrle in the fourth and fifth innings.

Coincidence or not, Hernandez is a member of the same crew that called 2 balks on the left-hander May 26 at Cleveland. In that game, it was Joe West who made the calls from first base. Buehrle was ejected in that game.

"To me, it is kind of weird - 4 balks back to back with the same people," Guillen said. "Mark Buehrle has been doing this (pickoff move) the last 10 years. I don't see anything.

"I can't say they (umpires) were looking for trouble. I hope we are wrong. As long as they respect the game and respect my players, I respect them. I got along with a lot of umpires."

Garcia out: Sox pitcher Freddy Garcia will miss his scheduled start Sunday. He had an epidural Thursday after back pain cut his last 2 starts short.

Lucas Harrell will take Garcia's place on the mound.