Jerry Sands hit his first major league home run for the Dodgers, but that was the only good news for the Dodgers on Saturday, as they lost to the White Sox 9-2 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. The White Sox plated six runs in the fourth inning that saw them send 11 men to the plate, delivering more than enough support for Mark Buehrle. The Chicago southpaw pitched seven strong innings to pick up his 24th career interleague win, the most ever.
Jon Garland allowed just one run entering the fourth inning, but the long frame proved to be his undoing. Garland retired just one of the nine batters he faced in the inning, and exited with a 5-1 deficit. Two inherited runs scored after his departure, breaking the game wide open. The seven runs and 13 baserunners allowed by Garland in 3 2/3 innings were the most this season by a Dodger starter.
The home run by Sands came in the sixth inning off Buehrle, in the 96th plate appearance for Sands. The rookie has hit the ball the other way all season -- only four of his 32 balls hit to the outfield before the home run were left of center field -- but pulled his home run over the left field wall. Sands also has nine doubles this season.
Alex Rios and Brent Lillibridge homered for the White Sox. Both Chicago and L.A. have 21-26 records on the season. The final game of the series is Sunday afternoon, with Hiroki Kuroda facing former Dodger Edwin Jackson.
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