Sox continue slump to finish in 8-6 loss to Twins

The White Sox (73-80) continued limping toward the finish line, falling to the Twins 8-6 at U.S. Cellular Field.

With their fourth straight loss, the Sox' "tragic number" dropped to two.

Slumping right fielder Jermaine Dye hit 2 home runs to spark the White Sox' offense, but starting pitcher Mark Buehrle (12-10) had another off night.

Buehrle lasted just 31/3 innings and allowed 5 runs (4 earned) on 8 hits.

"I've seen him get hit, but his stuff wasn't there at all," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "His velocity was down, and you could see from the beginning the best stuff wasn't going to come out of his hand."

Buehrle is scheduled to make two more starts this season, but the left-hander has thrown 2071/3 innings this season and appears to be out of gas.

"I will pencil him in for the next two starts, but I don't know," Guillen said. "It depends on how he feels. If Buehrle can't go, we'll put somebody else out there."

Williams expects staff back: Greg Walker has taken much of the blame for the White Sox' miserable season, but don't expect the hitting coach to be relieved at the end of the season.

General manager Kenny Williams gave Walker - and the rest of the Sox' coaching staff - a strong vote of confidence on Wednesday.

"(Walker's) doing everything he can to get the hitters in a proper mindset, the proper hitting position to have success," Williams said. "At the end of the day, it's the players that make you look smart or make you look dumb, and right now we're all not looking too smart."

Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen met with the coaching staff Wednesday afternoon.

"I expect everyone to be back," Williams said. "But Ozzie and I still have to reserve that official comment. We have not had one conversation about getting rid of anyone."

Change in plans: The White Sox' defense has been poor this season, and general manager Kenny Williams has a plan to make it better in 2010.

"You can prepare the players in different ways," Williams said. "One of the things I'm discussing with our staff right now is turning the clock back a little bit to some of the fundamental things that were done in the past. You'll see us take infield just prior to the game more often next year.

"That's something I have asked to be done because I want guys to get out of the clubhouse a little earlier and get the competitive juices firing a little bit earlier prior to the game."