Matt Thornton spoke up last week and might have saved his powerful left arm.
After requesting and receiving a three-day rest, Thornton has regained his previously dominant form.
He struck out the side in the eighth inning of the White Sox’s 2-1 win against the Athletics on Saturday, and he has retired all seven batters he has faced since his break.
Thornton said he has asked for a break twice this season, the first two times he has done so in his career.
The second break came after Thornton pitched in three games in four days.
In the third game, Monday night’s 5-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox, only 18 of his 35 pitches were strikes.
“Hopefully, we score a few more runs and don’t have to use him [Sunday],” manager Ozzie Guillen said.
Thornton blamed himself for his control transgressions against the Red Sox. Since returning he said he has been “a little sharper, a little more crisp, and more effective.”
Road blues
U.S. Cellular Field is known as a hitter’s park, particularly during the summer months.
Never, however, did it look so comforting for White Sox reliever Octavio Dotel, especially after Friday night’s failures.
The two home runs Dotel allowed in a 6-4 loss to Oakland swelled his road ERA to 4.68 in 25 innings, compared with 1.88 in 28 2/3 innings at home.
“I really don’t know, to be honest,” Dotel said Saturday when asked for a reason. “I would like to know why it’s like that.”
Extra innings
Fox has picked up the Sox’s game with the Detroit Tigers on Sept. 13, so it will start at 2:55 p.m. As a result of Fox’s decision, the Sox’s games against the Los Angeles Angels on Sept. 6 and against the Cleveland Indians on Sept. 27 will start at 6:05 p.m. … Reliever Scott Linebrink reported no problems after throwing for the second consecutive day. … Bobby Jenks converted his 11th consecutive save chance. … Alexei Ramirez has reached base in 11 consecutive games.
