Levine: Jeff Samardzija Strong In Win Over Tigers
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The losing streak is over for the White Sox, who went through the toughest of weeks in dropping every game on their most recent road trip before a 5-2 win against the Detroit Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field on Tuesday night.
Right-hander Jeff Samardzija took one for the team in more ways than one. In the top of the seventh inning, Samardzija took a lined one-hopper off of his right forearm with the tying run at the plate in Kinsler. The ball bounced toward the foul line, where Samardzija pounced on it and threw out Kinsler at first base t preserve the lead.
An X-ray of the arm was negative, but the excessive swelling will dictate another look at the bruising at some point.
"It didn't feel to good," Samardzija said before getting additional treatment. "I just wanted to grab it and throw it over there. I didn't rush, and thankfully I did not throw it off of the tarp."
Riding a five-game losing streak, Chicago put up a four spot in the third inning, ending the evening for Detroit starter Shane Greene.
Samardzija gave up single runs in the first and second inning before settling down throwing five scoreless innings after that. In seven innings of work, he allowed those two earned runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out seven.
"I had good stuff," Samardzija said. " was confident with what I had. With all things said, I was happy to get out of those first couple innings with a couple of runs. For me, that is it -- if I can escape innings just giving up a single run, it's fine to avoid those crooked numbers."
Although Samardzija was hit hard his previous outing in Baltimore, he has handled Detroit in the two starts, with a 1-1 record to show for it against the Tigers. Samardzija has given up just three runs in 15 innings against one of the best offensive teams in baseball.
"He was really throwing the ball well," catcher Geovany Soto said. "He had command outside, inside both sides of the plate. His slider was pretty good, and his cutter was there. That is a good lineup, and he held them to two runs and gave us a chance."
The White Sox made three more errors Tuesday night, giving them eight in their last two games. It continues to be a major concern.
"There are some things in there that we don't like seeing," manager Robin Ventura said. "You have to be able to clean it up in order to win consistently. That is never going to change. No team can stay consistent unless you can clean up your defense."
Samardzija defended his team and the manager after starting the season 8-14.
"To judge this team right now, where we are at, is wrong," he said. "We have a great team here. We have a lot of veteran guys who play their best baseball in the middle of the summer and late season. Right now we are going out and battling. We will keep pitching and hitting, until we do it. We have the guys to do it. There should not be any worries."
Home cooking has been the cure for the White Sox, who have posted a 7-3 record at U.S. Cellular Field as opposed to a 2-11 mark on the road.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
