CHICAGO -- Struggling reliever Keith Foulke has lost his closer's job with the Chicago White Sox and will do some setup work in an effort to regain his form.

	Foulke

Foulke, one of the AL's top closers the past two years, is 0-4 with only eight saves this season, the last on May 25. After saving a career-high 42 games and blowing just three chances all of last year, he's already failed in two save situations this season.

''It's something that needs to be done,'' Foulke said before Tuesday night's game against the New York Mets. ''I haven't done much late in games except help us lose. ... I have to get some confidence back.''

Part of Foulke's problem might be attributed to a lack of regular work. The White Sox had only 16 save chances in their first 64 games and had lost 12 of 15 coming into Tuesday night, so he's gotten sporadic opportunities.

Chicago manager Jerry Manuel tried getting Foulke some extra work May 27 against the Yankees, bringing him on in the eighth inning. New York rallied for five runs in the ninth and won 6-3.

It was Foulke's first blown save at Comiskey Park since September 2000.

''We're struggling, he's struggling,'' Manuel said. ''I'm trying to take some of the pressure off of him. I'm going to try and pitch him more on a consistent basis.''

For now, Foulke will work in late innings, but not with the game on the line. That way, he can try to find a solution to the problems he's having without feeling as if he's costing the team.

There's no timetable for how long it will take. In the meantime, Manuel will rely on Antonio Osuna and Damaso Marte in save situations. Bob Howry, who lost his closer's role to Foulke in 2000, could get a turn, too.

''We didn't put a title on what I'm going to be doing,'' Foulke said. ''We're just going to pitch in a few situations where I can get my work in. If I give up a couple of runs, I'm not going to kill the team. I'm not going to put us in a hole.''

The White Sox selected a closer in the first round of the draft last week, San Diego State left-hander Royce Ring. He has already reached a deal with the team.

But Foulke's demotion is only temporary, Manuel said.

Foulke signed a $10 million, two-year contract in December. Whenever he's ready, he'll be taking the ball in the ninth inning on a regular basis again.

''Hopefully, Keith can get it back together,'' Manuel said. ''That's the plan is to get him back to where we can go to him and not only does he have confidence, but we have confidence in him.

''He's been in situations where there's no margin for error.''

Foulke said he's not sure what the problem is. Whenever he thinks he's got things figured out, something bad happens again.

So when Manuel came to him Monday to tell him about the move, Foulke said it was almost a relief.

''It's been the toughest couple months of my baseball career,'' he said. ''I've never pitched as poorly as I've pitched right now.''