Jim Parque is not one to question authority, but when White Sox pitching coach Nardi Contreras informed him he was being pulled after six innings Tuesday, Parque sought a second opinion.
He approached manager Jerry Manuel, told him he felt strong and asked, “Can I go another inning?”
“No,” Manuel replied. “You’re [pitching] on three days’ rest. You understand, right?”
Parque didn’t offer much of a response.
“I just nodded my head,” he said.
Given the situation, Parque’s request was justified. He had retired 10 consecutive batters, had thrown just 96 pitches and had a 4-3 lead.
“I felt good, but Jerry didn’t want to hurt my arm,” he said. “I don’t question his decision. He’s the manager. He runs the team.”
Manuel said one other factor influenced his decision. Parque had gone seven innings only twice in his last 12 starts.
“He has normally been a five-inning or six-inning pitcher at most for us,” Manuel said.
Bob Howry started the seventh and ran into trouble immediately. He walked Jay Buhner and gave up a double to David Bell. Howry retired pinch-hitter Al Martin, semi-intentionally walked Mark McLemore and struck out another pinch-hitter, Stan Javier, for the second out.
Manuel then pulled the hard-throwing Howry for his inexperienced side-armer, Chad Bradford.
“I thought Bradford would give him something unique,” Manuel said.
And one other thing: Howry had faced Cameron just once, in the second game of a double-header on Aug. 8 at Comiskey Park. Cameron took Howry deep for one of his 19 home runs this season.
Bradford jumped ahead of Cameron, but the former Sox outfielder slashed a 1-2 pitch into right field to tie the game.
Manuel used three more relievers after Bradford but is not concerned about weary arms going into Game 2.
“The bullpen,” Manuel said, “will be fine.”
