Panic Isn't factor

Desperate times fine with Guillen

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - In his own way, manager Ozzie Guillen likes this backs-to-the-wall predicament the White Sox find themselves in following a 6-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays last night in Game 2 of their American League Division Series.

"We've got to fight like a cat and now it's a must-win game," said Guillen about the sudden-death aspect of tomorrow afternoon's game at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. "We win one game and we'll get on a roll; that's the way we played all year."

Guillen lamented the performance of his offense, which left 12 runners on base and let Tampa Bay starter Scott Kazmir and reliever Grant Balfour off the hook as the Rays took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

"It's White Sox baseball," Guillen said sarcastically. "We have 12 hits, we got two runs, and those two runs were in the first inning. You're not going to win many games like that. They had 12 hits and scored six runs. That means they got clutch hitting."

Guillen didn't seem to be as upset at some of the called third strikes late in the game as some of his hitters were. "Well, you're not going to get anything going if you don't swing the bat," he said.

Guillen was asked whether he regretted leaving starter Mark Buehrle in the game too long. Buehrle faced two batters in the eighth and both came around to score as the Rays expanded on their 3-2 lead.

"Nope, he's my best guy," said Guillen. "The only ball hit hard that inning was the [B.J.] Upton ball [a triple]. And no. I'm not going to regret that. I can sleep tonight and the rest of my life real good."

Peña out again

Carlos Peña was originally in the Rays' lineup for Game 2, but he was removed after taking batting practice, still suffering from blurred vision in his left eye, which he scratched in a home accident Wednesday.

The Haverhill, Mass., native saw an eye specialist yesterday. Manager Joe Maddon said at his press conference before batting practice that Peña reported he was seeing well upon his arrival at Tropicana Field. But after Peña took batting practice, that changed.

Maddon had penciled in Peña at first base, hitting third. The manager was forced to rework the order, moving veteran left fielder Carl Crawford to the No. 3 hole, shifting right fielder Rocco Baldelli to DH, and adding rookie right fielder Fernando Perez to the lineup, batting eighth.

No harm intended

When Kazmir hit White Sox leadoff man Orlando Cabrera in the leg with a pitch to open Game 2, it wasn't considered retaliation for Cabrera's dust-up with Balfour in the seventh inning Thursday. Cabrera yelled at Balfour for muttering expletives after every pitch. Asked about Balfour's demeanor, Guillen said, "I love it. That's my style. I mean, I think he's great for baseball." . . . After three hits (two homers) in his playoff debut in Game 1, Rays third baseman Evan Longoria attended the University of South Florida football game Thursday night. "[He's] ubiquitous," said Maddon. "I was asleep because I got back at 8:15 p.m. We ordered some Italian food, ate that, watched a minuscule part of the Cubs game, fell asleep, and then I hear he was at the game. I'm thinking, 'My God, that's what two homers and an RBI single will do for you.' I was 10 toes up. I have no problem with that. I'm glad our guys are involved in the community and supporting the other organizations and teams."