April 12--Jeff Samardzija bobbed his head and sang to no one in particular while at his locker before Saturday's game against the Twins.
"I'm stranded, caught in the crossfire."
When he was done singing along with Stevie Ray Vaughan, he relaxed and took in a few holes of the Masters golf tournament with some teammates.
But Samardzija was singing a different tune into his glove as he walked off the field after giving up four runs on five hits in the second inning. What that tune was, Samardzija wouldn't say after he helped the White Sox stop their losing streak at four games with a 5-4 victory.
"No I can't, actually. I might get fined," he said. "It wasn't anything pretty.
"There wasn't anyone to yell at but myself. We had some words, and then we went out there in the third and took care of business."
And in the fourth, the fifth, the sixth and the seventh.
On doormat giveaway day at U.S. Cellular Field, Samardzija helped ensure the 1-4 Sox wouldn't be alone at the bottom of the American League Central. He didn't give up another run and finished seven innings to help save the Sox bullpen, which threw 4-1/3 in Friday's 6-0 loss and could get another workout Sunday when Chris Sale, whose pitch count will be monitored closely, makes his first start.
"When they're up 4-0 we're probably on the mat, the way it has been going for us," Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "But (our guys) came right back and scored some runs, grinded it out, really put some pressure on offensively."
Samardzija is 1-1 with a 1.73 ERA in five career appearances at U.S. Cellular, including three starts. He was 1-3 with an 8.44 ERA and gave up nine home runs in 21-1/3 innings this spring. He then gave up five runs in six innings in the season opener against the Royals.
"I'm the hardest person on myself, harder than anyone you can imagine," Samardzija said. "I understood that after that second inning, that wasn't who I want to be and I needed to turn it around.
"I knew after (Friday's loss) I needed to go deep in the game, so I just needed to calm down and understand that the goal was to give that bullpen a rest."
Geovany Soto, who now has caught Samardzija the Cubs, A's and White Sox, tied the score 4-4 in the fourth with a home run. He was lifted for pinch-hitter J.B. Shuck in the eighth and Shuck drove in the eventual winning run.
With 0-162 out of the question, the Sox turn their attention to Sunday, when Sale faces major-league hitters for the first time since last season. Sale, who finished third in AL Cy Young voting after going 12-4 with a 2.17 ERA last season, missed all of spring training after injuring his right foot in February.
"If it's somebody else, maybe (I would worry)," Ventura said. "(but) knowing his stuff and what he has done, I feel pretty confident. You get him back, you're happy. I don't care if he has faced a hitter or not."
On Sunday, he finally will.
"I know what Chris can do. I'm not too worried," Samardzija said.
Of course not. Except for the second inning Saturday, Samardzija was Mr. Calm, caught in the crossfire no more.
pskrbina@tribpub.com
