CLEVELAND — The White Sox don’t think the Indians’ pitchers are intentionally hitting them, but they’re keeping score.
Paul Konerko didn’t start Wednesday night after playing in both games of Tuesday’s day-night doubleheader and manager Ozzie Guillen said Konerko had a stiff back. Konerko, however, was one of three players who got hit in a 5-4 victory in the nightcap.
“I don’t think any of them were probably intentional,” Konerko said. “But there’s a cumulative thing that kind of adds up after a while. So, we’ll see how that goes.”
Guillen is convinced the Indians’ pluckings were accidental.
“Deep inside, I don’t think they did it on purpose,” Guillen said. “But players think the same way. If they come to me, I will be more than happy to donate the (fine) money to protect my players. But I don’t have anything telling me it was on purpose.”
Reliever Chris Sale added the game was too close to try for payback.
“The last thing you need to do is be stupid and obviously we don’t like our guys going down like that,” said Sale, who earned the save. “I cannot afford to give them any free baserunners, especially in a game like that. You still want to win it.”
Extra innings: Alejandro De Aza batted in the leadoff spot Wednesday and Guillen believes he has a chance to stay there if Juan Pierre doesn’t return in 2012. “He does everything a leadoff man supposed to do,” Guillen said of De Aza, who had a .383 on-base percentage entering play Wednesday. “He gets on base, hits the ball well, and has more power than Juan. He will steal bases.” … Catcher Ramon Castro (right hand) remains unlikely to return this season, and right fielder Carlos Quentin (left shoulder) hasn’t made substantial progress, Guillen said.
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