Nick Blackburn is enjoying the Minnesota Twins' late surge and everything that comes with it. "This is what we all play for. It's a blast," the right-hander said Monday night after pitching seven sharp innings to help Minnesota beat the fading Chicago White Sox 7-0 for its seventh victory in eight games. With 12 games to go, the Twins moved within 2 1/2 of first-place Detroit in the AL Central. "Being in a race like this makes it even more exciting," Blackburn said. "There's more pressure... Read Full Story
Jack Cust hit a three-run homer and Mark Ellis followed with a solo shot, fueling a five-run first inning and leading the Oakland A's to an 11-3 victory Tuesday night over the Chicago White Sox. Ryan Sweeney matched a career high with four hits, all singles, and added three runs and two RBIs. Oakland's No. 3 batters have combined to hit .218 this season but Sweeney, a one-time top White Sox prospect who went to Oakland in 2008's Nick Swisher trade, is at .348 in his last five starts there... Read Full Story
Brian Roberts liked what he saw from the Baltimore Orioles in their first series win since the All-Star break. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was less than pleased with his team's performance. Roberts had three hits, Nolan Reimold hit a two-run homer and the Orioles beat Mark Buehrle and Chicago 5-4 on Sunday. "It was good for us, certainly, to come in here against a team that's battling for a playoff spot and to play the way we did," Roberts said. "I think that's a great sign for us. It's... Read Full Story
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen made it clear Wednesday night that Bobby Jenks is still his closer. Guillen expressed his displeasure with White Sox fans that booed Jenks after he allowed two runs in the ninth in a 3-2 loss to the Rays on Tuesday night. Jenks loaded the bases with no outs then he walked Pat Burrell to force in Jason Bartlett with the tying run. Carlos Pena drove in Evan Longoria on the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to right. It was Jenks' third blown save of the season... Read Full Story
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen had a warning for the rest of the league: Hit our players and our pitchers will retaliate. Guillen was upset Sunday after Paul Konerko, Scott Podsednik and Gordon Beckham got hit by pitches by the Cleveland staff a night earlier in Chicago's 8-5 win. Guillen acknowledged he didn't think the Indians were throwing at them, but he's had enough of watching his players get hit. "Yesterday I get upset, they hit one guy and they throw in into another guy. I got upset... Read Full Story
The Minnesota Twins are in their final weeks at the Metrodome, and Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has offered to help his rivals with the goodbye. During each game over the last two seasons, the Twins have had fans, former players and local celebrities help change the number next to a "Countdown to Outdoor Baseball" banner behind the left-field seats. The count was at 15 on Monday as the White Sox began their final series here. Guillen has been an outspoken critic of the domed... Read Full Story
White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin was activated from the disabled list on Monday after missing nearly two months because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Quentin, who had 36 homers and 100 RBIs last season in his first year with Chicago, got off to a slow start and had not played since May 25. He was batting .229 with eight homers and 20 RBIs before Monday's game against Tampa Bay. Chicago optioned outfielder Brian Anderson to Triple-A Charlotte to make room for the slugger. "I feel... Read Full Story
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen says he's to blame for a disappointing season that will likely end with the defending AL Central champs out of the playoffs. Guillen said Monday that Chicago's struggles are his fault and not that of general manager Ken Williams, owner Jerry Reinsdorf or his players. After a loss to Boston on Sunday, the White Sox were in third place and eight games behind Detroit in the AL Central with only 24 left. They have been plagued by poor fielding and erratic hitting... Read Full Story
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen remains optimistic that Jake Peavy will pitch again this season, even if he's not relying on the right-hander's return. Peavy will make his third rehab start Monday for Triple-A Charlotte, trying to work his way back from a strained tendon in his right ankle. Guillen said he doesn't want Peavy to risk another injury by returning too soon, and respects how GM Ken Williams is handling the rehab. The 28-year-old Peavy was traded to the White Sox on July 31, after... Read Full Story
Struggling Corey Hart drove in three runs on a double and a triple and saved two more with a diving catch for the Milwaukee Brewers, who rallied to beat the Chicago White Sox 7-2 Friday night. The win snapped Milwaukee's four-game losing streak even though the Brewers have stayed in first place in the NL Central through a 4-7 stretch. In this one, the Brewers trailed their former AL Central foes 2-0 after a run-scoring double by A.J. Pierzynski and an RBI single by Chris Getz in the fourth... Read Full Story
Usain Bolt said he had no intentions of playing professional football in the United States, and apparently he has no intention of testing his speed against the NFL's best either.
