Thursday, June 17, 2010
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH
Yes, Pedro Alvarez, this really is the majors. Even if nothing surrounding the rebuilding-again Pittsburgh Pirates these days looks like a major league product.
White Sox starter John Danks held down Alvarez and the Pirates by limiting them to four hits over eight innings and Pittsburgh committed six errors during Chicago’s 7-2 victory Wednesday night.
The Pirates ran their losing streak to 10 in the major league debut of Alvarez, their top power prospect since Barry Bonds. Alvarez contributed one of the Pirates’ four ninth-inning errors, mishandling a throw at third base.
It was only the 15th game in club history with as many as six errors. The Pirates’ record is seven, which occurred four times, according to STATS LLC.
“We embarrassed ourselves a little there at the end,” manager John Russell said.
The White Sox looked sharp again while winning their sixth in seven games. The left-handed Danks was in control throughout and Carlos Quentin drove in two runs with a single and double. Paul Konerko had three hits and drove in a run.
Before Chicago’s road trip began, general manager Kenny Williams stressed the importance of winning both interleague series this week, against Pittsburgh and Washington. The White Sox are assured of taking the Pirates series after winning the first two games.
“I think we were bound to have a good run at some point,” Konerko said. “We were bad for a long time to start this season and now we’re starting to put some runners on consistently. And the pitching is starting to smooth out.”
The Pirates are enduring their third double-digit losing streak in 42 years. The 2006 Pirates lost 13 in a row under manager Jim Tracy and Russell’s first team in 2008 dropped 10 in a row.