Pierzynski keeps Sox streaking

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CHICAGO - If necessary, the White Sox can manufacture runs. As Tuesday night showed, the Sox can win with “Ozzieball” - singles, steals, sacrifices and speed. They can win that way. But it isn't the preferred method. The Sox got back to what they do best Wednesday - A.J. Pierzynski's walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted his team to a 6-5 victory over Cleveland at U.S. Cellular Field. Pierzynski drove Masahide Kobayashi's first pitch over the left-center field wall. “One through nine, every guy who steps to the plate is in scoring position,” Ozzie Guillen said. “Our lineup's pretty strong - it has a lot of pop. Everybody who steps to the plate has a chance at a home run. It's a good thing to have.” Guillen said after Tuesday, the Sox know they're never out of it. “We know we always have a shot,” he said. Pierzynski's homer was prefaced by a number of twists. The Sox (49-35) trailed Cleveland and starter C.C. Sabathia by a run heading in to their half of the seventh, but scored two on an error, a single and a double. The lead held until the ninth, when Grady Sizemore, batting against fill-in closer Scott Linebrink - Bobby Jenks (sore left side) was not available - tied the game on his second homer in as many at-bats. After back-to-back scoreless frames, Pierzynski led off the bottom half of the 10th with a line drive through the ever-increasing raindrops. “I was just looking for a pitch, a pitch I could hit, I pitch I could drive,” Pierzynski said. “Ozzie was yelling at me not to be a hero, to just try and hit a single. “I hit it, and was like, ‘It's got a chance.' But I didn't know if it was gonna make it.” Pierzynski downplayed his heroics. “I don't know if it was that dramatic of a home run,” he said. “But it's always fun when you hit a home run in the ninth or 10th inning to win a game. It's a good feeling to see all your teammates there [at home plate], how excited everyone is. “It was great, especially since the rain was about to start pouring.” The homer was Pierzynski's second of the game - he took Sabathia deep in the first, stroking a first-pitch fastball deep into the right field bleachers. Before the game, Pierzynski said his goal was to just make contact off the ace. “The thing is, if you look at the numbers, guys don't hit his slider and his change-up very well. So you have to look for a fastball,” he said. “Lucky for us he made a couple mistakes early in the game and we got on him. “He's still C.C. He still throws 98. I was telling [hitting coach Greg] Walker how he has the best left-handed slider I've seen in a long time. “He's still as good as they come.” Sabathia was the talk of pre-game - the southpaw, a free agent after this season, is expected to be dealt before the July 31 trading deadline. Wednesday may have been Sabathia's final start against the White Sox in an Indians uniform. “I definitely wouldn't [be sad to see him go],” Joe Crede said. Pierzynski said Sabathia “pretty much kills” the Sox. “For me personally, it's a win if I just make contact,” he said. “I don't think I'll be too upset if I never face C.C. anymore after today. He's that good. “If he's gone, I don't think any guy on this team would shed too many tears.”