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Indians pound Vazquez, White Sox

Sep 28, 2008 - 4:27 AM By Gene Chamberlain PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago White Sox insist they have not hit panic mode yet. But heated words between catcher A. J. Pierzynski and pitcher Javier Vazquez and some self-doubt by manager Ozzie Guillen on Saturday night told a different story.

Asdrubal Cabrera broke open a tie game with a three-run double in the fifth inning and Zach Jackson allowed three hits in seven frames as the Cleveland Indians played the role of spoiler perfectly again with a 12-6 victory over the White Sox.

"I don't think they realize how lucky we are right now to be swept (in Minnesota) and lose another series (to Cleveland) and we still have a chance to win this thing," Guillen said. "It's unbelievable doing that and still be fighting until the last day of the season."

The problem is, the White Sox seemed to be battling themselves as much as an Indians team with nothing to gain. Pierzynski and Vazquez had some words on the mound during the righthander's third straight disappointing outing.

"I'm just not going to talk about it," Vazquez said. "It's between me and A.J. It's done for me. If he wants to talk about it, it's fine, but I'm not going to say anything.

"We've got to pull for each other. This is a team. A lot of guys right now are struggling, having a tough time, and you've got to battle through it."

Chicago (86-74) could have regained the lead in the American League Central after Kansas City knocked off first-place Minnesota (87-74) for the second straight day. Instead, the White Sox lost their fifth straight as Vazquez (12-16) gave up seven runs- six in the fifth inning - and five hits in 4 1/3 frames.

Vazquez had allowed just one hit before the decisive fifth. He and his batterymate had their exchange on the mound when Vazquez was about to be pulled.

"He was throwing the ball real good and had a great feeling about the game," Guillen said. "All the sudden, he got ratty."

Paul Konerko tried to rally Chicago with homers in the seventh and eighth innings, but the White Sox's bullpen imploded.

"Obviously, Minnesota lost and we had an opportunity and didn't get it done," Chicago's Jim Thome said. "It's very frustrating. We want to win a game here and make up some ground, but it's just not happening. Bottom line, we've just got to come out tomorrow, stay positive and keep playing."

Shin-Soo Choo hit his 14th home run in the first inning off Vazquez for a 1-0 lead, but Chicago tied it in the bottom half as Jermaine Dye belted his 34th blast of the season.

Vazquez, who has given up 18 earned runs in 12 innings over his last three starts, loaded the bases in the fifth before Cabrera lined a shot into the right field corner for a three-run double and 4-1 lead.

After intentionally walking Grady Sizemore, Vazquez gave up a two-run double by Jamey Carroll before leaving the mound to a chorus of boos. Choo singled in another run off reliever Clayton Richard for a 7-1 lead as 11 Indians batted in the inning.

Jackson (2-3), who carried a 5.96 ERA into his ninth start, allowed two runs, three hits and four walks with four strikeouts.

With the loss, Chicago needs to come up victorious and have Minnesota fall to Kansas City on Sunday before winning Monday's makeup contest with Detroit.

If the Twins and White Sox both win Sunday and Chicago prevails on Monday, the teams will meet at U.S. Cellular Field on Tuesday for the division title.