White Sox-A's: Chicago Cannot Bend It Like Beckham, Lose Three Of Four

Third baseman Gordon Beckham stepped up to the plate for his Major League Baseball batting debut with the Chicago White Sox in the second inning Thursday against the Oakland Athletics.

With runners on first and second base and one out, Beckham hit into a fielder's choice, forcing center fielder Dewayne Wise out at second. With that, the eighth overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft has begun what could be a long and accomplished career; Beckham finished the day batting 0-for-3 with one strikeout.

It also marked one of eight times the White Sox failed to get a hit with runners in scoring position in the game's first six innings. The missed opportunities proved to be costly as they lost their third out of four games to the Athletics 7-0.

The White Sox's lack of scoring production wasted a solid performance from starting pitcher Mark Buehrle, who allowed four runs on five hits and struck out four batters in eight innings. However, he took the loss as designated hitter Jason Giambi hit a three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to increase the Athletics' lead to 4-0.

Oakland took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly from catcher Kurt Suzuki that scored left fielder Matt Holliday from third base.

Octavio Dotel pitched in relief for 2/3 of the ninth inning. Dotel gave up three runs on three hits, including a two-run homer by right fielder Aaron Cunningham.

Pitcher Brett Anderson recorded the win for the Athletics. He pitched a shutout on six hits and struck out four batters in seven innings.

For the White Sox, there were plenty of chances to score. Left fielder Scott Podsednik led off the bottom of the first inning with an infield single and stole second base with shortstop Alexei Ramirez at bat.

Neither Ramirez, right fielder Jermaine Dye, nor first baseman Paul Konerko could send Podsednik home. Following Beckham's fielder-choice hit in the second inning, which moved catcher A.J. Pierzynski to third base, second baseman Jayson Nix flied out to end the inning.

With Wise on second base due to a balk in the bottom of the fifth, Nix grounded out and Podsednik struck out to strand him.  

The loss decreases the White Sox's record to 25-28. They remain 3.5 games out of first place in the American League Central Division behind the Detroit Tigers and fell one game out of second place, trailing the Minnesota Twins.