Peavy, Pierzynski Exchange Words; Sox Win 4-3
Updated June 22, 2011 at 11:15 p.m.
By Adam Hoge-
CHICAGO (CBS) Jake Peavy didn't leave quietly Wednesday night despite getting the win in the White Sox's 4-3 victory over the Cubs.
As he was being pulled by manager Ozzie Guillen in the sixth inning, Peavy walked halfway to the dugout before turning around and pointing at the mound where Guillen and catcher A.J. Pierzynski were standing. He appeared to be shouting something in the same direction while he was pointing. After the inning was over, television replays showed Pierzynski and Peavy exchanging words in the dugout before they both disappeared down the tunnel.
"I had a tough time swallowing the way my start went," Peavy said after the game. "Boys will be boys and we are going to say stuff to each other at times that might not sit well with the other. Talk through it and get it straight. I love A.J. Pierzynski to death. He competes his rear end off."
Peavy had given up three straight hits before being pulled by Guillen, including a home run to Carlos Pena. The Cubs had narrowed the lead to 4-3 and had runners at first and second base with one out at the time. His pitch count was up to 104 pitches.
"We're fine. I love Jake Peavy. He's a great competitor," Pierzynski said. "In the heat of the moment, things happen. It wasn't a big deal. I guess it was caught on camera or whatever, but it wasn't a big deal."
Peavy insisted that the argument wasn't about pitch selection and added that the two ate dinner together in clubhouse after the game.
"I love competing with A.J," he said. "A.J. is one of the best competitors in the league and I love him to death. He knows that and he knows that right now. That happens a ton and I hate that the cameras saw a little bit of it but it was nothing but us talking about how we are going to get better."
Chris Sale came in the game for Peavy in the sixth and struck out Koyie Hill. Kosuke Fukudome then reached on an infield single to load the bases for Starlin Castro. But Sale was able to induce Castro into a ground out to third on the first pitch to get out of the inning.
Pierzynski had a big night at the plate, giving the White Sox a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning on a two-run triple. He then scored on a suicide squeeze by Brent Lillibridge on the next pitch to increase the lead to 3-0.
The Cubs came back with a run in the top of the fifth on a Starlin Castro RBI single, but the White Sox added the eventual game-winner in the bottom half of the inning when Lillibridge was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Alexei Ramirez scored on the play.
Sergio Santos earned his 14th save of the season by pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
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