Blue Jays 2, White Sox 0

Buehrle outdueled, Sox blanked by Blue Jays

Guillen will retool lineup as slow team can't generate runs

By Mark Gonzales | Tribune staff reporter

10:36 PM CDT, May 2, 2008

TORONTO - With a veteran lineup lacking a speedster, the White Sox admit they have few options but to work their way out of their recent slump.

That became more apparent Friday night after they collected a season-low two hits in a listless 2-0 loss to the Blue Jays and Shaun Marcum that extended their losing streak to three games.

Manager Ozzie Guillen plans to drop Jermaine Dye to sixth in the batting order in Saturday's game while starting Pablo Ozuna at second base in place of Juan Uribe and starting cleanup hitter Paul Konerko, who missed his second straight game Friday night because of a sore right hand.

Guillen, however, said the moves have more to do with splitting up the Sox's lineup against the Blue Jays' three left-handed relievers than the fact they were shut out for the second time this season and have scored seven runs in their last four games.

"There's not really a whole lot to do," catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "You can move Jermaine down. You can move me down. You can move [ Carlos] Quentin up. You can move [ Joe] Crede up. You can move Uribe to leadoff.

"What the heck are you going to do? Guys have to hit where they're going to hit. It comes down to we're not getting hits."

During the Sox's pre-series scouting meeting, Guillen told his players not to worry after noticing a dejected atmosphere following Minnesota's two-game sweep Wednesday.

He reiterated this faith in a club that currently lacks speed to create runs.

"If we have kids on this club, things would be different," Guillen said. "We have guys who have hit in the past and have struggled in the past. And they know their way to get out of the slump. It's a shame when our pitching staff is doing well and we don't help them to win games.

"You keep waiting and waiting, and all of a sudden you don't see any results. This game is about results. It's not about waiting and living in the past. We got to try to get the results as quick as we can, and I think everyone, hopefully, isn't losing confidence in themselves and keep plugging."

Nevertheless, the Sox had only one scoring opportunity in the seventh, when they loaded the bases after two outs. But reliever Jeremy Accardo induced Uribe to fly to right.

That typified Mark Buehrle's second frustrating outing in as many years at the Rogers Centre. A throwing error by third baseman Crede with two outs in the first preceded hits by Vernon Wells (a lifetime .517 hitter against Buehrle) and Shannon Stewart (.400 off Buehrle) and two runs.

"That's the second time they broke this kid's heart," Guillen said of the Blue Jays.

Buehrle pitched a two-hit complete game against Toronto on May 31, 2007, but left with a 2-0 loss after allowing solo homers to Aaron Hill and Frank Thomas.

"If one good thing came [out of Friday's loss, Buehrle] pitched great," Pierzynski said. "There's no time for moral victories, though."

mgonzales@tribune.com

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