Manager Ozzie Guillen says Zack Greinke is the best pitcher in the American League, but the White Sox recently have found ways to solve him.
The Sox became the first team to hit three home runs off Greinke since they did it June 3, 2008, on the way to a 4-2 victory Wednesday over the Royals. Greinke, a 2009 All-Star, fell to 11-8 and is 0-2 with a 4.05 ERA in his last three starts against the Sox.
“We just played a typical White Sox game — one home run after another,” Guillen quipped. “When you face guys like that, you have to pick the right place and the right time to hit the ball because he has so much good control.”
Scott Podsednik led off the first with a double and scored on Paul Konerko’s double for Konerko’s 1,000th RBI as a member of the Sox. Podsednik is 17-for-34 lifetime against Greinke.
There also were positive signs from Carlos Quentin, who hit his second home run in as many games, and Alex Rios, who hit his first since joining the Sox on Aug. 11.
Stand by your men: Guillen supported Alexei Ramirez and third-base coach Jeff Cox in the wake of mishaps in the Sox’s 5-4 loss Tuesday.
Guillen was pleased Ramirez was running to second when Alberto Callaspo dropped a popup and then caught Ramirez in a rundown in the second inning.
Guillen revealed he lifted Ramirez for a pinch-runner in the ninth inning of a game Aug. 7 for not hustling on a fly that was dropped by Cleveland’s Trevor Crowe.
Cox, meanwhile, sent Quentin from third on a shallow fly to right, where Willie Bloomquist, normally an infielder, easily threw out Quentin for the second out of the fifth.
“He has had more success than failure,” Guillen said of Ramirez.
Thome update: Designated hitter Jim Thome is expected to start Friday night against Baltimore after missing his third straight game because of a sore left heel.
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Royals pitcher Zack Greinke’s record in 22 career games against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
