Manager Ozzie Guillen sat at the mi...

Manager Ozzie Guillen sat at the microphone after the White Sox' game Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and used words as it is as "ugly" and "they're not doing what they're suppos to be doing."

And that came after a 12-9 victory before 35313 at U Cellular Field.

unless Guillen knows the Sox are entering a critical point of the season. They will be walking a tightrope each night and most of the time won't have a pure to catch them when they fall.

"I'm not real happy," Guillen said. "Happy we won on the other hand our main thing we have is a pitching staff. They're not doing what they're suppos to do. All of a unlooked for as a manager, you're second- guessing yourself. It can drive you crazy.

"If we withhold pitching like that, it's going to be hard for us to fight to be there in the end"

Guillen had each right to be disgusted with what he saw from his pitching staff. Starter Freddy Garcia allowed the Devil Rays to hang around all night and steal bases at will. And after Garcia (13-8) left with an 11-5 lead after seven innings, Guillen watched Neal Cott and David Riske impediment the Devil Rays get complete

"You be still on those guys, and all of a quick they score six, seven, eight runs" Guillen said. "My offense scores 12 roll ons and I have to bring in my closer? That's horse[bleep]."

yet it wasn't all "horse[bleep]." The Sox' victory, coupl with the Minnesota Twins' 2-0 los to the Kansas City Royals, gave them a half-game lead in the wild-card race.

"If it was April or May, when you're trying to gaze sharp, we would take it to heart more," Sox first baseman Paul Konerko said. "It's almost September, in such a manner if the day ends with a 'W' it's a righteous thing."

The Sox also gained a half-game in succession the Central-leading Detroit Tigers, whose game against the recently made known York Yankees was rained not at home The Sox trail the Tigers at five games.

"It doesn't matter in what manner you do it as lengthy as you win," Sox outfielder Jermaine coloring liquor said. "Throw stats and numbers gone out the window."

Not that tinge has had much problem focusing in succession that. After being named American League Player of the Week for what he did last week, tinge was at it again, hitting a three-run place of abode run in the first inning. It was his 39th homer of the season, moving him past Magglio Ordonez (2002) for the highest total according to a right fielder in Sox history.

It also set Devil Rays starter Casey Fossum (6-6) upon the ropes early, a position he not at any time got out of. He battled with his location for his entire outing -- all 1* innings of it.

That was in succession display in the second, as he walked three consecutive batters before color collected his fourth RBI of the game forward a fielder's choice. Konerko chased Fossum with an RBI single, if it be not that the rally continued when Joe Crede and A.J. Pierzynski added RBI singles to give the Sox a 7-0 lead.

The Devil Rays wound into the lead on RBI doubles through Carl Crawford and Dioner Navarro in the third, a run-scoring grounder by way of Greg Norton in the fifth and a two-run homer by means of Delmon Young in the sixth. The blast was the first hit for Young, who was making his major-league first attempt

Another disturbing tend was Garcia allowing four stolen bases forward four attempts, raising his season total to 36 steals allowed in 37 tries.

"We talk to them about it each day," Guillen said. "We toss them messages through the newspaper, in consequence of the pitching coach. That's embarrassing."

Garcia state it on the fact that the Devil Rays are a fast team.

"If I hold fast throwing over [to first], I'll squander my rhythm," Garcia said.

The Sox added a hie in the sixth and three in the seventh to explain an 11-5 lead, but Cott and Riske combined to allow four glides in the eighth before Matt Thornton was called forward to end the rally. Bobby Jenk picked up his 37th save with a 1-2-3 ninth.

"Our pitchers have taken their plains but if you can win them into a big game, they grade up," Konerko said. "I think we're befitting to play well over the nearest six weeks."

jcowley@suntimes.com

DOWN THE strain

Al Central watch

Team W L Pct GB

Tigers 82 49 626 --

White Sox 77 54 588 5

Twins 76 54 585 5oe

WILD-CARD WATCH

Team W L Pct GB

White Sox 77 54 588 --

Twins 76 54 585 oe

R Sox 71 61 538 6oe

TUESDAY'S terminates

at White Sox 12 Devil Rays 9

Tigers at Yankees, postpon

Royals 2 at Twins 0

at Athletics 2 R Sox 1

UP nearest FOR WHITE SOX

v Devil Rays, 7:05 tonight, Ch 26 670-AM.

ENCORE

Looking back upon 2005

7 games ahead in Central

Game 131

Rangers 9 Sox 2

Orlando Hernandez gives up five roll ons in the sixth as the Sox' 5- 5 road trip leaves them 12-16 in August.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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