White Sox 4, Blue Jays 3
Dylan Axelrod threw six shutout innings for his first major-league victory as Chicago defeated the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, 4-3, Monday in Ozzie Guillen's final game as White Sox manager.
The White Sox issued a release right after the final pitch, indicating they would immediately release Guillen from his contract. Guillen reportedly will become Florida's manager, and be traded to the Marlins for a pair of minor-leaguers.
Axelrod (1-0) didn't let rumors of his manager's departure distract him as he kept the Blue Jays off-balance all night. He allowed just three hits and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning, inducing Colby Rasmus to line out to first base before getting Adam Loewen to fly out to left.
Sergio Santos surrendered a pinch-hit two-run double to David Cooper in the ninth but escaped with his 30th save, striking out Adam Lind with the bases loaded to end it. Santos needed 44 pitches to complete the inning.
Tyler Flowers provided the bulk of the offense, belting a three-run shot 15 rows deep into the left-center field seats off Blue Jays starter Dustin McGowan (0-2). Flowers came into the night hitting just .137 with one home run in 37 September at-bats.
That was the only damage done against McGowan, who held Chicago to four hits over four innings as the Jays (80-80) fell to .500 for the 32nd time this season.
White Sox DH Adam Dunn went 0-for-2 with two walks, dropping his average to .160. He's nine plate appearances away from qualifying for the worst batting average in modern major league history.