In his debut with the Toronto Blue Jays, A.J. Burnett discovered firsthand what many teams and pitchers already know. Don't miss your spot when you're facing Paul Konerko.
Konerko hit a pair of two-run homers off Burnett, Mark Buehrle pitched eight strong innings and Tadahito Iguchi made a stellar ninth-inning defensive play Saturday as the Chicago White Sox beat the Blue Jays 4-2 in Chicago.
"I got a couple of good mistakes to hit, and I didn't miss," Konerko said. "That's what you have to do against a guy like that. He's got real good stuff."
"I wasn't trying to do it. I'm just trying to take good swings. The approach is good and I just want to keep it there, just let the home runs be a reaction."
Konerko hit a tie-breaking two-run homer in the fifth — his second of the game, fourth of the season and third in two games.
"Both those balls leaked over the middle right toward him and he did what you're supposed to do with them," Burnett said. "Two pitches and that was really it."
Burnett (0-1), who signed a five-year, $55 million contract with Toronto after spending seven seasons with the Marlins, gave up seven hits and four runs in six innings while walking one and striking out five. He started the season on the disabled list after scar tissue broke off in his elbow during spring training, delaying his first start with his new team. He was activated before Saturday's start.
"I threw a lot of pitches early. You've got to put them away when you're ahead," Burnett said. "I wasn't as good as I expected to be."
But the Blue Jays were still encouraged by his outing.
"It's just good to have him out there," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "He'll get better the more he's out there."
INDIANS 7, TIGERS 2: At Detroit, Fausto Carmona allowed one run in six innings in his major league debut to lead the Indians to the win. Carmona (1-0), recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to replace C.C. Sabathia (abdominal strain), gave up five hits to help Cleveland snap a three-game losing streak.
MARINERS 3, RED SOX 0: At Boston, Joel Pineiro and two relievers combined on a five-hit shutout for the Mariners. Seattle took advantage of two passed balls by Josh Bard to score three runs in the third inning.
ATHLETICS 5, RANGERS 4: At Oakland, Calif., Eric Chavez, Frank Thomas and Milton Bradley homered on three straight pitches in the sixth inning for the Athletics. Rich Harden (2-0) allowed four runs and three hits in seven innings to help Oakland snap a four-game losing streak.
DEVIL RAYS 6, ROYALS 3: At St. Petersburg, Fla., Ty Wigginton drove in three runs to help Tampa Bay beat Kansas City. Trailing 3-2, the Devil Rays loaded the bases, and Wigginton lined a two-run single to center to give the Devil Rays a 5-3 lead.
TWINS 6, YANKEES 5: At Minneapolis, Justin Morneau hit a two-out, two-run single in the ninth inning off Mariano Rivera to lift the Twins over the Yankees for their fifth straight come-from-behind win.
ORIOLES 3, ANGELS 2: At Baltimore, Erik Bedard pitched eight strong innings to earn his third win for the Orioles. Jeff Conine had an RBI double and Melvin Mora singled in a run for Baltimore.