White Sox pitching lets them down in wild 12-9 loss to Halos

Mark Trumbo and many other Angels contributed to a 12-run outburst against the White Sox (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports).

The White Sox scored nine runs on a season high 17 hits.  And lost.  The Angels were more efficient with their hits, scoring 12 runs on just 12 hits, sending the White Sox to their first loss in the last five games.

The Sox actually started the scoring by finally breaking through with a four-run fourth inning, after stranded two runners a piece in the game’s first three innings.  Alex Rios hit a two out, two-run double over the Angels third baseman and was followed by a two-run single by Adam Dunn, who continued his hot hitting.  Unfortunately, Jeff Keppinger later replaced Dunn after he experienced some back spasms.

Hector Santiago gave up almost the entire lead right back in the bottom half of the fourth inning, giving up allowing two walks and two hits, which turned into three Angels runs.  Santiago struggled with his control all day, giving up as many walks as hits (four each) and three runs in just three and one-third innings.

Nate Jones came on, but didn’t fair any better than Santiago, giving up four runs over three and one-third innings, although two of those runs came home when Alberto Callaspo hit what seemed like a back-breaking two-out, three-run homer off of Donnie Veal in the seventh inning to increase the Angels lead to 8-4.  Veal then proceeded to give up two more runs before his disastrous day was over.

However, the White Sox battled back from the 10-4 deficit in the eighth inning on RBI singles from Paul Konerko and Dayan Viciedo and then a three-run homer by catcher Hector Gimenez to pull within one run at 10-9.  But following the script of this seesaw affair, the Sox would give runs right back, as Matt Lindstrom allowed two Angels runs in the bottom half of the eighth inning to swell the Angels lead to three.  Angels closer Ernesto Frieri mercifully put an end to this long, long game with a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his eighth save.

Up Next: Jake Peavy takes the mound for the White Sox, trying to go for the series win on Sunday at 2:35 against Jason Vargas of the Angels.DAY Sports).