CHICAGO – Although he hasn’t had many wins, Henderson Alvarez has impressed his manager.
Alvarez tossed seven strong innings but was outdueled by Mark Buehrle as the Toronto Blue Jays fell to the Chicago White Sox 2-1 Tuesday night.
Alvarez (1-3) has now pitched six innings or more in each of his last eight starts. He gave up two runs on seven hits and struck out six without walking a batter.
“He pitched another outstanding game for us,” Blue Jays manager John Farrell said. “Look at the poise and overall stuff, he certainly gives the presence and the feeling that he belongs here.”
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Chicago’s Tyler Flowers hit a solo homer, his fifth of the season off Alvarez in the second. A.J. Pierzynski singled home a run in the sixth, but the 21-year-old right-hander otherwise kept pace with his counterpart.
Alvarez had abandoned his cutter earlier in the year because it was bothering his arm, but he used it effectively against the White Sox.
“The last two starts I was throwing (the cutter) and it didn’t bother me,” Alvarez said. “The most important thing about pitching was getting ahead of hitters. That’s what I was doing all the time. Make those guys swing the bat.”
Buehrle pitched seven shutout innings in possibly his final start for the White Sox, the team’s first game since Ozzie Guillen was released from his contract after Monday night’s victory over the Blue Jays. Pitching coach Don Cooper served as interim manager.
Buehrle (13-9) allowed six hits, struck out six and walked none. He left to an ovation before throwing a pitch in the top of the eighth.
“It was pretty cool,” Blue Jays first baseman Adam Lind said of Buehrle’s exit.
“He’s a guy in baseball that everyone respects. He may not be the most talented guy in the world, but he sure gets a lot out of his ability.”
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