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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CHICAGO (AP) -- David Wells isn't going to let anything bother him right now. Not his injury, not the White Sox's poor start and not the scouts checking him out for possible deals.
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Wells pitched 5 2/3 innings for his first win in nearly a month
as Chicago beat the Detroit Tigers 5-3 Saturday night for their third straight victory.
"I can't worry about who's out there," Wells said, referring to the dozen or so scouts in attendance. "I've got a job to do and who's there doesn't concern me."
Wells (4-5), rumored to be on the trading block, had been
bothered by a left groin strain and made his first start since May
23. He allowed three runs on eight hits with a walk and no
strikeouts. His last win was May 6 at Texas. He was 0-2 with a 7.52
ERA in three previous starts.
"I felt good. No problems," Wells said. "Five good innings, one bad. It was nice to be out there. I haven't been in a long time."
The Tigers didn't wait for Wells to get warm before testing the
big left-hander's physical condition. Detroit leadoff hitter Jose
Macias bunted the first pitch of the game down the first-base line,
but Wells was ready and pounced on the ball, whirling and
throwing to first to get Macias by a step.
"They're gonna challenge whenever they feel there's weakness," Wells said. "Rightfully so."
With his team ahead 5-0 and shutting the Tigers down for five
innings, Wells allowed three runs in the sixth. After two runners
reached to start the inning, Wells got Damion Easley to hit into a
double play, which scored Brandon Inge, who had doubled.
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I can't worry about who's out there. I've got a job to do and who's there doesn't concern me. ” |
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— David Wells, on the possibility of auditioning of other teams' scouts |
Wendell Magee then hit a solo homer and on the next pitch Tony
Clark hit his seventh homer -- his first since May 10 -- bringing
Detroit within 5-3.
Wells then walked Dean Palmer and manager Jerry Manuel called on
reliever Sean Lowe.
"I'm always sorry to come out, but I am not surprised," Wells said. "We're not going to push it."
Said Manuel: "I don't think his groin was a problem. I felt in that situation, with him not being on the mound in a while, he would have a harder time getting out of the jam."
Keith Foulke, Chicago's fourth pitcher, retired the side in the
ninth for his 11th save.
The White Sox have won seven of eight games, and at 22-30
haven't been this close to .500 since May 15.
"We played terribly the first couple months, but we're starting to put it together," Wells said. "We're getting the hitting and pitching we need. The combination is there."
Chicago went ahead 1-0 in the third when Sandy Alomar hit a
one-out double -- the 200th of his career -- and Jose Valentin followed with an RBI double.
To lead off the fourth, Magglio Ordonez hit his 11th homer, off
Jeff Weaver, putting Chicago up 2-0.
Chicago pushed three more across in the fifth. With two out and
runners at second and third, Herbert Perry bounced a two-run single
to left, scoring Valentin and Ray Durham. Perry took second on the
throw home and scored one batter later when Harold Baines hit an
RBI single to center.
Weaver (4-6) allowed all five runs on 10 hits over eight innings, walking one and striking out eight. Weaver came in with a 1.55 ERA over his previous six starts.
The Tigers have lost four in a row and nine of 10.
"We're letting teams continue to roll over us," Weaver said. "Each one of us has to look ourselves in the mirror and ask if we're doing everything we can the win games. I do a lot of thinking all the time."
Game notes
Tigers OF Roger Cedeno was scratched due to back spasms but was available for pinch-hitting. Jose Macias started instead. ... Inge's third-inning double extended the Tigers' extra-base hit streak to 41 games. ... CF Juan Encarnacion held on to a fly ball after colliding with RF Magee in the seventh. ... Chicago has beaten Detroit seven straight times. ... OF Carlos Lee was given the night off. ... Valentin, who went 2-for-4, has hit in all 11 games against the Tigers this year. ... Weaver pitched his third
complete game of the year.
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RECAPS
NY Yankees 9
Cleveland 4
Baltimore 7
Oakland 0
Boston 2
Toronto 1
Chi. White Sox 5
Detroit 3
Texas 3
Minnesota 2
Anaheim 3
Kansas City 2
Seattle 7
Tampa Bay 4
St. Louis 8
Cincinnati 5
Colorado 7
San Francisco 5
Houston 2
Los Angeles 1
NY Mets 7
Florida 1
Chicago Cubs 10
Milwaukee 4
Montreal 12
Philadelphia 5
Atlanta 0
Pittsburgh 0
Arizona 2
San Diego 1
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