There are few players who have come through in the clutch more than White Sox shortstop Jose Valentin. Wednesday wasn’t one of those days, however.
Valentin basically was picked off second with no outs in the seventh inning, then dropped a foul popup that would have ended the 10th inning. Twins right fielder Jacque Jones, given new life, then singled in the winning run as the Twins completed the three-game sweep with a 5-4 victory.
“It’s something that’s hard to take,” Valentin said. “It’s not something that’s going to stop me. I’m just going to forget today and take care of business in Detroit.”
On second in the seventh with Juan Uribe at first, Valentin had to get a lead big enough to advance to third if the bunt succeeds but still must be able to get back if the batter bunts through the ball.
“I think I took too aggressive a lead,” Valentin said.
Valentin said he saw Twins catcher Henry Blanco hesitate before throwing and figured he was too far off second to get back, so he decided to try for third.
“Just another mistake that I just paid for,” he said.
The dropped popup came as Valentin ran into foul territory with runners on second and third and two out in the 10th.
“I got a good jump. I just went in too far and dropped it,” he said. “It’s hard when it happens to you, especially in a situation like this. But that’s how the game is. I just have to take it like a man.”
Extra innings
The Twins’ sweep was their first in Chicago since April 20-22, 2001. The Twins are now 5-1 this season in Chicago while the Sox are 6-1 in Minnesota. . . . Corey Koskie was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat Wednesday. He was hit three times Tuesday night. “I hope they hit my leadoff hitter three times,” Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “At least I’ll have someone on base.” . . . Injured right fielder Magglio Ordonez put a message on the center-field scoreboard thanking the fans for their thoughts and support. . . . The Sox have lost four in a row at home for the first time since May 26-29, 2002.
