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Grand slams by Konerko, Crede sink struggling Tigers

Apr 13, 2008 - 11:03 PM By Gene Chamberlain PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Manager Jim Leyland's hollering could be heard through closed doors in the hallway outside the Detroit Tigers' locker room Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field.

Earlier, Paul Konerko and Joe Crede hit grand slams to help hand the Tigers another embarrassing beating at the hands of the Chicago White Sox, 11-0.

It was Detroit's 10th loss in 12 games and fifth in six games against Chicago this season. The White Sox have outscored them, 46-15.

"We're professionals, we play 162 baseball games," Leyland said after cooling down. "We'll be ready to play tomorrow.

"We can get shut down tomorrow, but we'll be ready to play and that's not an issue with professional teams."

The White Sox shut out the Tigers for the second straight game. Javier Vazquez (2-1) threw seven innings of five-hit ball, striking out nine without a walk.

"We play pretty good against Detroit, and we are getting them at the right time," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen after his team beat the Tigers for the 42nd time in 63 games since the start of the 2005 season.

The Tigers haven't scored in 19 innings and haven't supplied a run of support for losing pitcher Kenny Rogers (0-3) in three starts this season.

"Detroit is going to be fine," Konerko said. "They're going to get their wins. They have too much talent over there.

"As long as everybody is working hard and doing what they should be doing, they'll be there at the end."

The slams by Konerko and Crede marked the first time two White Sox hitters hit grand slams in Chicago and third time in team history.

"That's kind of wild," Konerko said. "Definitely you don't see many grand slams in games, especially in this weather. The weather is kind of brutal (41 degrees, 20 mph wind) out there.

"I think it's a credit to the guys in front of us that were getting on base."

Konerko drove in the first five runs. His first-inning single to left produced the first run, before driving an 0-2 pitch from Rogers 405 feet to center in the third after Nick Swisher walked, Orlando Cabrera reached on an infield hit and Jim Thome walked.

The White Sox padded their American League-leading runs total by knocking out Rogers in a six-run fifth. Jermaine Dye's RBI double and a wild pitch scored the first two runs, and after two more walks, Crede hit Zach Miner's offering for his sixth career grand slam to left.

Crede had also hit a grand slam in Chicago's home opener to help beat Minnesota, 7-4, on Monday.

"I haven't seen any of the guys give up one at-bat yet," Guillen said. "Every at-bat counts for them no matter if we're down, we're up.

"We never sit there and hope for something to happen. They make it happen. They get good at-bats and take the pitcher deep in the counts."

The last time the White Sox had two grand slams in one game was May 19, 1996 by Robin Ventura and Darren Lewis in Detroit. Ventura also hit two himself in a September 4, 1995 game at Texas.

Vazquez's nine strikeouts were his best since he had 10 at Tampa Bay on June 28, 2007.

"I would love to get that many runs every time out," Vazquez said. "You have to forget what the score is and keep pitching the way you're pitching, keep throwing your game and don't change anything."

The White Sox's 7-4 start after a 72-90 in 2007 has left them feeling the exact opposite of the Tigers.

"It starts with Javie (Vazquez), as well, with the starting pitcher," Konerko said. "We felt good with him out there pitching, we thought he was throwing well and everybody just kind of feeds off each other."

The Tigers' misery was compounded by a freak play that paved the way for 10 White Sox to bat in the sixth.

Detroit third baseman Miguel Cabrera slipped in foul territory chasing Thome's pop up while trying to avoid a collision with third base umpire Doug Eddings. With Cabrera on his back in foul territory, the pop up landed back in fair territory next to third base for a single.