PAUL LADEWSKI
Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox got Mark Buehrle’s return out of the way, and Paul Konerko was relieved when it was over.
Avisail Garcia had two hits for Chicago in his return from shoulder surgery, but Buehrle pitched into the sixth inning to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 6-3 victory on Saturday night.
It was Buehrle’s first start at U.S. Cellular Field since he signed a free-agent deal with the Marlins following the 2011 season. He went 161-119 with a 3.83 ERA while spending the first 12 years of his major league career with the White Sox.
“Weird is definitely an understatement,” Konerko said. “Yeah, I’m kind of glad it’s over. Him in a different uniform doesn’t look right to me. Quite honestly, I don’t have it in me to want to see him do badly, so I really don’t like the combination.
“I’ll never have to go through it again, and that’s good.”
Buehrle was charged with three runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings. The 35-year-old left-hander struck out three and walked none.
Toronto had a 3-1 lead when Buehrle was pulled, and he waved to the fans who gave him a rousing ovation on his way to the dugout.
“I actually texted Konerko and kind of apologized and said ‘Hey, I hope nobody is ticked off on the team that I tipped my hat, because I don’t know what the rule is as far as being a visitor and kind of tipping your hat,'” Buehrle said. “At the same time, (because of) the reaction I was getting from the crowd, I felt it was right.”
Dayan Viciedo had a sacrifice fly and Konerko hit a tying RBI single after Buehrle departed, but Toronto scored three times in the seventh. Melky Cabrera had a big two-run double and Jose Bautista singled home a run.
Brett Cecil got two outs for the win and Casey Janssen worked the ninth for his 19th save in 22 tries. Matt Lindstrom (2-2) got the loss.
John Danks gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings for the White Sox.
BACK SO SOON
When Garcia injured his left shoulder diving for a fly ball on April 9, it looked as if he could miss the rest of the season. But he returned to the White Sox after he hit .340 during a 13-game rehab stint with Triple-A Charlotte. He batted fourth and played right field.
“It’s a shot in the arm for us adding another bat,” manager Robin Ventura said. “He’s just really excited. You could see it in the way he was playing.”
“I’m going to play hard every at-bat, every play,” Garcia promised. “Nothing’s changed except diving.”
Garcia was reinstated from the 60-day disabled list and OF Moises Sierra (oblique) went on the 15-day DL. Sierra exited Friday’s 11-5 victory because of a back injury.
The White Sox also recalled LHP Eric Surkamp from Charlotte, placed RHP Javy Guerra on the bereavement list and designated LHP Charlie Leesman for assignment before the game.
MOVING ON UP
White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon, the third overall pick in this year’s draft, was promoted from Single-A Winston-Salem to Triple-A Charlotte.
UP NEXT
In the finale of the three-game series, Toronto will start RHP Drew Hutchinson (8-10, 4.60 ERA) against RHP Scott Carroll (4-7, 4.81).
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