Wednesday, June 13, 2001
Wells goes from worst start to best
By Nancy Armour
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO — David Wells isn't trying to prove anything, he's not trying to shut anyone up and he's not showcasing his stuff for the scouts in the stands. He likes to pitch, OK? And he likes to win.
Wells bounced back from the shortest outing of his career to pitch seven shutout innings Tuesday night as the Chicago White Sox beat the Reds 5-0. It was the first time this year the left-hander didn't allow a run.
“I take negatives and try to turn them into positives,” said Wells, whose name was mentioned most often in trade rumors after the White Sox got off to a horrific start.
“I just go out and do my job. I love the game of baseball. I love to win, hate to lose.”
After facing only five batters Friday and leaving with back spasms before recording a single out, Wells (5-5) needed only 96 pitches to go seven scoreless innings. He allowed seven hits and struck out six.
Chicago has now won 14 of its last 17 games, and is four games under .500 for the first time since April 21.
Several scouts were in the stands to watch Wells, but Wells said he couldn't care less.
“Get off this, man,” he said. “I'm a Chicago White Sox. This is where my hat is, where my locker is, this is where I plan on staying.”
As if Wells' bad back wasn't enough, he also had a root canal Saturday. But he felt well enough Sunday that he was eligible for emergency bullpen relief.
The White Sox didn't need him, so manager Jerry Manuel shuffled his rotation and started Wells again Tuesday.
Too bad for the Reds.
“(Wells) basically never had his back to the wall,” Sean Casey said. “We had a couple of good opportunities, but we didn't take them.”
Reds sratrer Elmer Dessens, who had won three straight decisions, allowed only one hit in the first three innings. But the White Sox got to him in the fourth and gave Wells all the support he needed.
With two outs, Ordonez singled, and ex-Red Paul Konerko then homered to center, giving the White Sox a 2-0 lead.
The White Sox added to their lead in the sixth. After Chris Singleton and Carlos Lee led off with singles, Ordonez homered to left-center, his 13th homer of the year.
“Through the fourth, (Dessens) had outstanding stuff,” Boone said. “A couple of mistakes, end of ball game.”
White Sox Notes: Sean Lowe pitched the last two innings, allowing two hits. ... Singleton extended his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games. ... The White Sox have won seven of their last eight at home. The 21,687 fans at Comiskey Park included a walk-up crowd of 6,200.
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Wells goes from worst start to best
