The White Sox put the hurt on AL West-leading Seattle Monday night without “the Big Hurt” in their lineup.
Playing without injured Frank Thomas, the Sox beat the Mariners 5-0 behind the standout pitching of rookies Scott Eyre and Keith Foulke and three RBIs by catcher Jorge Fabregas.
Eyre pitched the first five innings, blanking the hard-hitting Mariners on three hits, and left with the Sox leading 2-0.
Foulke, one of six minor-leaguers obtained from San Francisco in the deal for Wilson Alvarez, Roberto Hernandez and Danny Darwin, took over in the sixth and allowed just one more hit over the last four innings.
Thomas said before the game his left elbow hurt where it had been struck with a pitched ball in Sunday’s double-header. He was originally scheduled to play, but he didn’t take batting practice and was removed from the lineup. Albert Belle moved from left field to Thomas’ designated-hitter spot, and Lyle Mouton started in left.
Seattle loaded the bases with one out in the first when Ken Griffey Jr. doubled between two walks. Eyre escaped by striking out Jay Buhner and Dan Wilson. Slick double plays started by Robin Ventura and Ray Durham helped Eyre out of tough spots in the second and third.
The Sox got the game’s first run in the third when Mario Valdez singled to left and scored on Ozzie Guillen’s double into the gap in right-center.
The bottom third of the order produced another RBI and a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Fabregas’ two-out single to right drove in Ventura, who had singled and taken second when Mike Cameron was hit by a Felipe Lira pitch.
The Sox made it to 5-0 with three runs off Paul Spoljaric in the sixth. Cameron doubled home Belle, who had walked. Fabregas earned his second and third RBIs of the night with a single that scored Mouton and Cameron.
