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Gavin Floyd deserved better. Giving up just one earned run – two total – on three hits in seven innings is usually good enough to win. But not yesterday, as the White Sox fell to the Rangers 2-1.

Until yesterday, Floyd had won every time he permitted two runs or fewer, allowing no runs twice, one run once, and two runs two times in his five wins. He’d lost only when giving up five or more runs – six runs twice and five runs once. Hell, he even escaped with a no decision when letting four runs cross the plate.

The problem was no offense. Paul Konerko, who was 1 for 3, drove in the only run. Adam Dunn left the tying and winning runs on base in the eighth inning when pinch-hitting for Brent Morel. Dunn has now gone 32 consecutive plate appearances without a hit against a lefty, and Morel could hardly have done worse than Dunn’s strikeout. Alex Rios also failed to deliver in the clutch, leaving the tying run stranded in both the seventh and ninth innings. Someone has to step up, because these two guys aren’t doing it.

Fortunately, the Surprising Indians lost, so the Sox did not fall farther behind in the division race, and they picked up one in the Magic Number calculations. It was the first series loss in the last seven, so it’s time to start a new streak. Go Sox!