161

So much for wire to wire. The White Sox fell out of first place yesterday, losing to Kansas City, 2-0. We warned you in our season preview that Gavin Floyd would not receive the same kind of run support he got last season because his move up in the rotation means his teammates would be facing the other club's second-best starting pitcher instead of its fourth-best. Floyd did his part, throwing seven innings of six-hit, two-run ball -- what Thomas Boswell calls a Quality Plus start. (A Quality Start is six innings with only three runs given up.) Floyd struck out nine, walked only two, and induced eight ground balls and only four fly balls. This kind of performance from the starting pitcher will usually mean a victory, but not on Wednesday.

Other bright spots: Matt Thornton needed only 10 pitches to dispose of the three batters he faced in the eighth inning, and Scott Linebrink struck out the side in the ninth. Jermaine Dye picked up two hits in his four at bats, and A.J. Pierzynski got the only other Sox safety. But that's pretty much it.

On the other hand, there was a lot not to like: Leadoff man, Dewayne Wise, still doesn't have a hit on the season (0 for 8) and botched another bunt attempt. He's not alone in taking the collar -- neither Alexei Ramirez nor Carlos Quentin has gotten off the Schnide either. But let's not dwell on this. We're only two games in and too early to panic. Wait until after the next game before pushing the button.

The loss leaves the Magic Number at 161 and drops the Sox a half-game back of the Twinkies, who are 2-1 on the season. John Danks is up next, and he says he's added a curveball to his repertoire, which if true, will make him even harder to hit. Now if only the offense supports him .... Go Sox!