For eight innings, it was probably the exact game that Ozzie Guillen dreamed about last night ... Entering the top of the ninth inning in Chicago, Guillen's White Sox led the A's 4-1 on the strength of John Danks' dominant performance: eight innings, five hits, and just one run (Hideki Matsui's solo homer in the fourth).
Athletics Vs. White Sox: Bullpen Blows Up Again As A’s Win 7-4 Late
Granted, Guillen's been a little unsure about his bullpen lately, with presumed closer Matt Thornton blowing a couple of saves. But with Thornton, Chris Sale, Jesse Crain and Sergio Santos at hand, Guillen certainly doesn't suffer from any lack of relief material. It's just a matter of choosing the right pitchers for the right spots and turning them loose.
Theoretically, anyway.
Down 1-0 after four innings, the White Sox tied the game with an unearned run in the fifth, when Juan Pierre reached on starting pitcher Brett Anderson's error and came home a moment later on Gordon Beckham's double to deep center. In the bottom of the sixth, the Sox went ahead 3-1 with a couple of manufactured runs, one coming on a fielder's choice and the other on Brent Morel's squeeze bunt. And in the bottom of the eighth, Chicago tacked on an insurance (unearned) run when third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff's error allowed Armando Rios to score.
With Matt Thornton demoted from the closer role, Ozzie Guillen turned to Chris Sale to protect Chicago’s three-run lead in the ninth.
Three batters later, Sale hadn't recorded an out, the score was 4-2 and the A's had two runners aboard. That brought Jesse Crain into the game, and he promptly walked the bases loaded before striking out Kurt Suzuki. With left-handed-hitting Ryan Sweeney pinch-hitting for Andy LaRoche, Guillen finally summoned the lefty Thornton from the bullpen.
Thornton struck out Sweeney. The A’s were down to their last out, and Thornton was one out away from some measure of redemption.
Which he wouldn't get, as Cliff Pennington singled up the middle to plate two runners and tie the game. Thornton did retire David DeJesus to end the inning.
Grant Balfour retired the White Sox in order in the bottom of the ninth. In the top of the 10th, with Thornton still in the game, the A's strung together a pair of walks with a pair of singles to score three more runs -- all charged to Thornton -- before Tony Pena came in to stop the bleeding.
For Oakland, Brian Fuentes pitched a perfect 10th to earn the save.
At game’s end, Chris Sale sported a 7.36 ERA, Thornton a 7.71 mark. Sergio Santos never got into the game, but he hasn’t allowed a run this season and figures to be next in line for the big outs. The White Sox are now 7-5, have blown saves in four of their five losses, and Ozzie Guillen is probably going to be dreaming bad dreams tonight.
For more on the A’s and White Sox, please check out team blogs Athletics Nation and South Side Sox.
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