Longest day not memorable one for White Sox
A sore lower back kept Paul Konerko out of Friday night’s marathon doubleheader against the Indians at U.S. Cellular Field.
But even as a bystander, the White Sox’ captain couldn’t elude yet another round of pain and frustration.
“You couldn’t even come up with what’s happened in some of these games if you wrote a script and made up these endings,” Konerko said Saturday, a day after the Sox lost Game 1 to Cleveland 19-10 before falling 9-8 in Game 2.
“This game keeps you in check as a player and as a team. No one is happy in here. This is not part of the plan. There’s no other way to say it.”
Well, Adam Dunn did have this to say about Friday: “It seems like when things go bad, they go bad. Real bad.”
In case you missed it, here are some of the lowlights:
ŸThe two games lasted a total of 7 hours, 53 minutes, establishing a major-league record for an 18-inning doubleheader.
The old record also included the White Sox, who played a 7-hour, 39-minute doubleheader against the Texas Rangers at Comiskey Park on May 24, 1995.
ŸIn Game 1, Sox starter Hector Santiago couldn’t hold a 5-0 lead over the Indians. In Game 2, closer Addison Reed couldn’t protect an 8-5 lead in the ninth inning.
After Cleveland scored 3 in the ninth to tie it, Reed served up a mammoth solo home run to Nick Swisher that sealed the sweep.
“(Catcher) Hector (Gimenez) called all the right pitches,” Reed said. “I just didn’t execute them. The ball was over the plate and up in the zone, and they made me pay for it.”
ŸAfter allowing 27 runs in their previous seven games at U.S. Cellular Field, White Sox pitchers yielded 28 in the doubleheader. Their team ERA went from 3.77 to 4.01.
In Game 1, Santiago gave up 5 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks in 21⁄3 innings. Brian Omogrosso came on in relief and allowed 9 runs on 9 hits and 2 walks in 21⁄3 innings. Ramon Troncoso followed Omogrosso and gave up 5 runs (4 earned) on 3 hits and 3 walks in 22⁄3 innings.
After the second game, Omogrosso (9.37 ERA) was optioned back to Class AAA Charlotte.
In Game 2, Sox starter Jose Quintana settled down a bit after allowing 4 runs in the first inning. The White Sox rallied but were swept in the doubleheader when Reed allowed 4 runs on 4 hits in the ninth.
ŸThe 46 combined runs matched a franchise record for a doubleheader, equaled on July 6, 2007, vs. the Minnesota Twins.
ŸOutfielder Casper Wells pitched 1 scoreless inning in Game 1. Wells did some pitching when he played college baseball at Towson University, and he impressed manager Robin Ventura with his 91-mph fastball and deceptive changeup.
On the plus side for the White Sox, Jeff Keppinger was 6-for-8 with a triple, home run and 4 RBI in the doubleheader, while Alejandro De Aza was 4-for-7 with 2 doubles, 4 walks and 5 runs scored.