Starting something
Things are looking up for Sox despite tough loss to A’s
OAKLAND, Calif. — Aside from a few more tickets sold, what more could the White Sox ask for 18 days into the season?
Jake Peavy is throwing shutouts, Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski are hitting like they’re in the prime of their careers and Adam Dunn is hitting home runs again — although he couldn’t get one when asked to Tuesday night.
Alex Rios, who didn’t get booed as much as Dunn did last year but probably could have, also has joined Dunn and Peavy in the Sox’ crowded bounce-back room.
Oh, yeah, and the Sox’ fifth starter pitched a perfect game Saturday.
What else could go right? Gavin Floyd, despite being on the losing end of a 2-0 decision to the Oakland Athletics, lowered the staff ’s ERA to 2.58 in the last 12 games. Rookies Nate Jones and Addison Reed haven’t given up a run, and Hector Santiago has saved four games in five opportunities.
The Sox fell to 10-7 but not before taking it to the final out. Dunn, pinch-hitting for Rios, struck out against closer Grant Balfour (five saves) with Kosuke Fukudome on third.
“We were looking to tie it up,’’ manager Robin Ventura said of his decision to pull Rios, whose 11-game hitting streak came to an end. “That was probably our best shot at tying it.’’
Floyd (1-3) and A’s lefty Tommy Milone (3-1) were locked in a scoreless matchup into the eighth inning. Floyd walked Daric Barton to open the inning, and Barton scored on Kurt Suzuki’s double down the left-field line against reliever Matt Thornton. Suzuki scored on Eric Sogard’s single for the first run against Thornton this season.
Ventura took no solace in knowing Floyd pitched well enough to win after two shaky starts.
“This stings because he pitched a good game,’’ Ventura said. “You don’t like to see anybody pitch like that and not win.’’
The Sox close their road trip Wednesday afternoon with a chance to win five of six out West. Focus on the task at hand — today’s game — is what Ventura is selling and what the players have bought into.
”I’ve got so much confidence in [Ventura and his staff ’s] ability to communicate the message to the players as to how we want to go about our business in a professional way,’’ general manager Ken Williams said before the game. “Have a little fun along the way … as well as having conversations amongst themselves about the little things that can make you a better team and win games.
“I’ve seen a lot of little things that have made the difference, whether it would be holding runners to a greater degree, giving catchers a chance to throw people out. I’ve seen double plays turned because now some runners are taking a step back and a step closer to the base. I’ve seen a variety of bunt plays … and good solid jumps in the field. There are a lot of positives, and the attention to detail that I told you guys about at the start of spring training is starting to result in better overall consistent play that’s nice to see.’’
Williams is pleased that his surprise managerial hire — the previously inexperienced Ventura — is working out.
Ventura couldn’t be more pleased with the way his players are approaching their jobs.
“Early on in spring training we were all getting used to each other. Toward the latter part of the spring they started feeling it. It’s just something that happens. It’s how they care about it each other, and the work they do and what they feel during a game. You hope it can always be like that and you try to ride that out as long as you can because it’s a long season.’’