Hermanson foiled in San Diego

SAN DIEGO -- Dustin Hermanson's run of perfection finally came to a close, a little less than 10 weeks into the 2005 season.
The White Sox closer saved his first 15 opportunities, before allowing two runs in the bottom of the ninth Saturday night, giving the Padres (36-26) a 2-1 victory in front of 41,020 frenzied fans at PETCO Park. The rally snapped a four-game White Sox winning streak on their Interleague road trip and dropped their record to a still amazing 36-2 when leading after eight innings.

Even though Hermanson (0-2) allowed Ramon Hernandez's seventh home run to tie the game and Damian Jackson's bases-loaded single through a drawn-in infield to win it, there wasn't a hint of fingers being pointed at the demonstrative closer. In fact, manager Ozzie Guillen singled out a lack of execution by his offense against Padres' starter Tim Stauffer and a pair of relievers as the ultimate reason for the setback.

"I have no complaints (with Hermanson). This kid has been pitching real well," said Guillen of the rough finish. "It's just part of the game. We didn't lose the game because of that. We lost the game because we had an opportunity to score a couple of runs and we didn't."

It took only two batters for the White Sox (41-20) to score their lone run of the game, as Scott Podsednik beat out an infield grounder to second and Tadahito Iguchi's double to left-center brought home the fleet-footed leadoff hitter with relative ease. Over the next six innings, the White Sox managed just one Iguchi single against Stauffer. The rookie struck out seven over seven and didn't issue a walk.

Both Akinori Otsuka in the eighth and Scott Linebrink (3-1) in the ninth gave the White Sox an opportunity to score, but the South Siders couldn't push a run across. Juan Uribe walked to open the eighth and quickly moved to third on Joe Crede's single to right.

But pitcher Mark Buehrle struck out on a bunt attempt, and Otsuka fanned Podsednik and Iguchi in the old-fashioned manner. Both Otsuka and Iguchi were part of the same Pacific League in Japan but played on competing teams.

Paul Konerko singled with one out in the ninth and was sent home by third-base coach Joey Cora on A.J. Pierzynski's double down the left-field line. Khalil Greene's relay throw was about 10 feet up the line, but Hernandez grabbed the throw and put the tag on a sliding Konerko for what home plate umpire Laz Diaz called the final out.

Guillen briefly argued, but left the field and left the game in Hermanson's hands.

Hermanson induced Ryan Klesko's pop up to third for the first out of the ninth, before working to a full count against Hernandez. The talented Padres catcher launched a split-finger that didn't drop into the left-field stands, a pitch Hermanson knew the result of without even turning around.

"Oh, yeah. I thought it was gone," Hermanson said. "I didn't get the job done. I was focused as could be. They fought off some good pitches, and that's how you win ball games."

His secondary references were to Sean Burroughs bloop single to left and Robert Fick's pinch-hit single to right following the home run, putting runners on first and third with one out. Hermanson intentionally walked pinch-hitter Mark Sweeney to load the bases, and Jackson followed with the game-winner.

It was Jackson's first hit against Hermanson in seven career at-bats. The rally also ruined another sensationally steady effort from Buehrle, who worked at least six innings for the 41st straight start. The left-hander gave up seven hits and one intentional walk over 7 2/3 innings, striking out six.

Yet, he ended up with his fourth straight no-decision and a second possible victory during that run lost in the ninth inning. The White Sox are 2-2 during these past four starts.

Buehrle said that he felt as good as he has in recent memory, with his changeup "coming out of his hand the way it's supposed to feel." The opposition has scored seven earned runs over his last 31 1/3 innings but his cupboard is completely bare.

"It's one of those games," Buehrle said. "Everyone is allowed to have a bad day and today was (Hermanson's) day. He's done the job for us all year, with it being two months or 2 1/2 months in, and it's his first blown save. It's a tough loss, but with Freddy out there tomorrow, I like our chances to win the series."

Dustin Hermanson / P
Born: 12/21/72
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 200 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R

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"Everybody wants to do well, numbers-wise," added reliever Cliff Politte, who struck out Phil Nevin to end the eighth and preserve Buehrle's 1-0 lead. "Buehrle has been lights out all year. It's like he said: He was bummed, but he was more upset that we lost."

The late-inning misery was compounded by Minnesota's 5-3 victory in Los Angeles over the Dodgers, cutting the American League Central lead to 4 1/2 games. Despite the tough loss, the White Sox still have a chance to finish at 5-1 on this road trip.

Hermanson also will have a chance to wipe away the memories from this loss, just as he bounced back nicely after his string of 21 1/3 scoreless innings ended. A closer needs a short memory to succeed.

"Yep, that's what I'm going to have to do," said Hermanson of having a short memory. "Just come back and get ready for tomorrow."

"Nobody is down on him after one game," Politte added of Hermanson. "You will run into bumps in the road every once in a while."

Source: http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/