Wild White Sox dealt painful loss; limp home

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Thursday, April 28, 2011
Posted: 9:22 p.m.Updated: 10:50 p.m.

By Brett Ballantini
CSNChicago.com

NEW YORKIn the midst of an offensive bounty unseen so far in this four-game series, New York Yankees fans suddenly became so bored with a 12-3 lead they struck up a Wave.

Perhaps they needed the exercise after spending huge chunks of a six-run fifth inninga half-frame that stretched on for an extraordinary 32 minutes and padded New Yorks lead to 8-0loading up at the concession stand.

C.C. Sabathia threw seven easy innings, surrendering three runs and striking out six, to earn his second win.

We should know that when you face C.C., you should bring your best stuff, because you will be in a battle, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. He always pitches well against us. We couldn't do anything right.

In fact, with the win Sabathia has improved his winning percentage vs. the White Sox to .810 (17-4), the best mark ever for a White Sox opponent.

On the other hand, Edwin Jackson was wild, falling behind 2-0 despite carrying a no-hitter into the fifth. And from there, it only got worse.

Throw strikes, was White Sox manager Ozzie Guillens advice to Jackson. You won't get away with much if you can't hit the strike zone when you face a lineup like this. Those guys are professional hittersthey're not going to chase anything. You have to be around the plate to get them. For the last three nights, we were around the plate.

You start a game throwing strikes, and all of a sudden you cant find the zone, Jackson said. You definitely put yourself in a situation where youre not helping yourself by doing so. Youve got to come out and attack the zone, make them put the ball in play, and take your chances.

That sounds like a terrific game plan, but as Jackson acknowledged he was atrocious in its execution, needing 91 pitches to record 12 outs and walking five to help surge his ERA to his highest point as a White Sox, 5.86.

Its a matter of thinking and not letting your instincts take over, and pounding the strike zone and trying to pitch instead of just going out and throwing to the glove, Jackson said. Its definitely frustrating when you come out and feel good and all of a sudden you cant find the strike zone. Its one of those things where you really cant go out and think. You just have to let your natural instinct take over.

Tony Pena relieved Jackson and left with elbow irritation, but not before helping to extend the Yankees lead to eight. Pena and Alex Rios, who limped off the field (toe) after circling unsteadily under Robinson Canos deep fly to end the seventh, both will be examined back in Chicago and are considered day-to-day.

It was a horrible end of an 11-game road trip for the White Sox, who harbored illusions of sweeping the Gothamers just two days earlier. Chicago finishes the trip at 3-8.

Its frustrating, Jackson said. Its just one of those things where you cant get in panic mode. You just have to keep coming out and fighting. Everyone is working hard. Sometimes you just dont get it done and just have to come back, start a new homestand, and hopefully get things rolling on a positive note.

It was terrible, Guillen reflected on the road trip. We finished the way we startedvery bad. We didn't plan it that way. We thought we would play better. We knew it was going be a tough road trip because of the teams we faced, but we're not hitting. We struggled at the plate. Hopefully, we turn things around at home.

The Captain tried to keep it positive after the game. His soliloquy was convincing to the gathered media; whether it sets in with his teammates is another matter.

Overall, its a 3-8 road trip. At the end of the day, thats all that matters, Paul Konerko said. Its been bad up to this point as a whole for the season, but that doesnt mean tomorrow has to be. Its way too early to get discouraged or to say, OK, this is the team thats going to be the team for the season.

Weve had some good times already. Just going off last years teamwe sure as hell dont want to wait two months to get goingthings can turn on a dime in this game. We learned it can turn in a bad way quickly, but we have to realize it can turn the other way just as quick.

Starting strong

For the second straight night, the White Sox wasted a golden opportunity to wreak havoc early. On Wednesday, Chicago loaded the bases vs. Bartolo Colon with none out and failed to score.

Against Sabathia on Thursday, the White Sox led off the game on fireBrent Lillibridge hit a shot to short that was ruled and error, and after Alexei Ramirezs sharp single to left the Pale Hose had runners on the corners with Carlos Quentin at the plate. But Lillibridge was thrown out at home on Qs quiet tapper to third baseman Alex Rodriguez, Konerko popped out to Nick Swisher in right, and Adam Dunn flew out to Curtis Granderson in center.
Nick Swisher celebrates his seventh-inning home run, a two-run blast that put New York up 12-3. (AP)
It was the closest the White Sox came to scoring until the game was well out of hand.

With good pitchers you have to take advantage, Guillen said. When they're right, they have the stuff to shut you down. We let him off the hook, and then he was CC. We know we were going to face a tough pitcher out there. When you lose an advantage early, that is what you get.

We kind of had him on the ropes early, Konerko said. Hes turned into a great pitcher. He used to throw real hard and have some dominant stuff. He still throws hard enough but hes really very well-rounded. He has more of a repertoire now where he can do some things he didnt used to be able to do. You give a guy a lead like that, hes gone.

Brett Ballantini is CSNChicago.coms White Sox Insider. Follow him @CSNChi_Beatnik on Twitter for up-to-the-minute Sox information.

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