MINNEAPOLIS – There was no closer controversy Tuesday night for the White Sox.
That’s because effective pitching from starter Freddy Garcia and the discovery of timely hitting helped the Sox actually to coast to a 5-2 victory over the Twins in their first game at Target Field.
“Definitely a momentum builder,” said Bobby Jenks, who quelled some speculation when he pitched a scoreless ninth.
The Sox (14-19) showed a sense of urgency as they cut their deficit in the American League Central to seven games behind the Twins. And they did it with several components.
That included left-handed reliever Matt Thornton, who retired formidable Justin Morneau, Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel in the eighth.
Before the game, manager Ozzie Guillen said the closer role would be predicated on matchups. He stuck with Jenks, whose ERA had swelled to 6.75 after Sunday’s blown save and loss to the Blue Jays that had caused Guillen to evaluate his options.
Jenks came through for his sixth save in seven chances, although he did allow a double to pinch hitter Jim Thome.
“If he keeps doing that, I know where he lives,” Jenks said. “I’ll just toilet paper his house.”
Seriously, Jenks didn’t understand the scrutiny over his status after Sunday’s game.
“That’s the thing I don’t understand. That going on,” Jenks said. “It’s one game. Everyone is hitting the panic button in (bleeping) April. Chill out.
“I won’t say everything I want to say, but it was one bad game. The game before that, I gave up a solo home run with the wind blowing out 20 mph. What are you going to do?”
The damp, cold elements seemed slow down every deep drive Tuesday night, but the Sox cured their .196 batting average with runners in scoring position against Kevin Slowey, who hadn’t allowed more than three runs in five of his previous six starts.
More impressive was that the Sox scored all five runs in the fifth with two out. Alexei Ramirez and A.J. Pierzynski hit two two-run doubles, and Andruw Jones capped the rally with an RBI single.
“There definitely seemed like there was more energy,” Pierzynski said. “Maybe it was the new park, not being in the Metrodome.”
Pierzynski was batting second for the first time this season as part of a lineup shakeup that saw Gordon Beckham drop to eighth.
Garcia, meanwhile, thrived on off-speed pitches to frustrate the Twins’ hitters.
Garcia worked out of a jam in the fifth when he struck out Orlando Hudson and whiffed 2009 AL MVP Joe Mauer on an 81 mph changeup.
“One thing about Freddy is that he has the ability to rise to the occasion,” Pierzynski said.
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