It was a game struggling White Sox ace Mark Buehrle and embattled reliever Cliff Politte would like to forget.
That’s unlikely.
Buehrle lasted only three-plus innings Saturday in losing his third consecutive start.
And the memory is worse for Politte, whose stay with the Sox ended after 2 1/2 seasons following a 14-3 humbling by the New York Yankees.
The Sox will designate Politte for assignment Sunday, capping a rough ending after he posted a 2.00 ERA during the Sox’s 2005 World Series title season.
“When you struggle like this, you feel like every outing you have to perform because the clock is ticking,” said Politte, whose ERA swelled to 8.70 after he allowed four runs in two innings. “Maybe a fresh start would do good, but you don’t want to leave the situation I’m in here.”
The Sox have 10 days to trade, waive or assign Politte to the minors, but Politte said he wasn’t sure whether he would accept a minor-league assignment if he clears waivers. Politte will earn $1.2 million this season.
“I was treated very well,” Politte said. “They kept running me out there in situations for me to succeed, and it didn’t happen. For some reason, it didn’t. I feel bad. I let these guys down.”
Buehrle (9-7), meanwhile, has until Friday to correct his location woes. He has been tagged for 22 runs over his last 14 1/3 innings because of lingering location issues.
“They’re swinging at first pitches, so it seems like a lot of jams I get myself into this year, I throw 10 pitches and there are seven guys who get on base,” Buehrle said. “I don’t know if I need to concentrate more on the first pitch or . . . I don’t know.”
Buehrle was pulled after the first five batters in the fourth reached safely on seven pitches.
“There’s no excuse,” Buehrle said. “I’m not hurting at all. I’ve pitched [terribly] the last [three] starts. I feel 100 percent.”
Buehrle’s losing streak is his longest since he dropped six from April 20 to May 16, 2003.
Buehrle’s outing was his shortest since he lasted two innings in an 11-8 loss to the Yankees on April 20, 2004, at U.S. Cellular Field. This also was the shortest start by a Sox pitcher since Orlando Hernandez lasted 2 2/3 innings against Texas on May 16, 2005.
