Konerko’s hustle helps Sale pick up a win
Two unusual things happened Tuesday night at U.S. Cellular Field.
First, ace starting pitcher Chris Sale finally got a positive decision in the White Sox’ 3-2 victory over the Yankees.
Second, Paul Konerko used his “speed” to beat out a potential double play in the sixth inning, allowing Alexei Ramirez to score the deciding run.
All in all, not a bad night, unless you were New York’s Alex Rodriguez (1-for-2, walk) being relentlessly booed by the crowd of 23,826.
Sale came in with the lowest run support average per game in the major leagues at 2.47, which explained the 6-11 record linked to a 2.92 ERA.
The Sox only scored 3 off Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda, but Sale and relievers Nate Jones and Addison Reed (27th save) made the runs hold up.
“Every situation you’re in is a learning experience, good, bad or indifferent,” Sale said after pitching 71⁄3 innings and allowing 1 run on 5 hits and 4 walks. “Each outing you learn something, and I learned a lot last year having success and facing some adversity this year.
“You take the good with the bad through it all.”
Konerko usually makes things happen with his bat, but he managed to use his legs to get down the line and avoid getting doubled up to end the sixth.
“I usually get one of those a year, and that was it,” Konerko said. “It was obviously a double play that takes a third baseman (Jayson Nix) deep like that, that’s probably the one shot I’ve got.
“I did get out of the box well, and for me it was the best I’ve got. It kind of takes those two things for that to happen.”
Viciedo feeling better:After leaving Monday night#146;s game against New York with a jammed left thumb, left fielder Dayan Viciedo was not in the lineup Tuesday.#147;There#146;s a little bit of swelling,#148; Viciedo said through a translator. #147;Thank God there was no fracture. It was just a freak jamming, so the inflammation is there. They#146;re doing some treatment on it to reduce the swelling and hopefully get me out there on the field as soon as possible.#148;Viciedo, batting .333 over his last 12 games, hopes to play against New York on Wednesday.#147;I just landed on it and I had some really bad thoughts going through my head,#148; he said. #147;Luckily, nothing#146;s broken. When I got back to the dugout I couldn#146;t close my glove, and that#146;s when I realized there#146;s something wrong here.#148;Surgery for Omogrosso:Relief pitcher Brian Omogrosso, who split the year between Class AAA Charlotte and the White Sox, had season-ending surgery Monday to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur in his throwing (right) elbow.He#146;s expected to start throwing in 8-10 weeks.Omogrosso pitched in 12 games for the Sox this year and was 0-2 with a 9.37 ERA.Blame game:On Monday, White Sox manager Robin Ventura wasn#146;t happy when asked if this season#146;s failures should be traced to the coaching staff.#147;It#146;s all my fault,#148; Ventura snapped. #147;It is. I#146;m the manager, so I have to take the responsibility.#148;A day later, Ventura was asked if he was being serious.#147;I have to take responsibility,#148; he said. #147;We#146;re all in it together. It#146;s not them alone. That#146;s about it. I#146;m tired of talking about it.#148;