AL | White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen hotter than a Texas thermometer

The Chicago White Sox led 2-0 only three pitches into the game, and they finished with a season-high 22 hits.

And it still wasn't enough. The White Sox lost 12-11 on Sunday to the Rangers in steamy Arlington, Tex.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was even hotter.

"This was the worst baseball game I've ever seen. ... The pitchers should look themselves in the mirror and be embarrassed," said Guillen, whose team set a franchise record for hits in a nine-inning loss. "That was ugly. That's the worst I've seen in a long time."

Guillen addressed the media in a calm tone, but his words were, as usual, colorful.

"We have people who are paid a lot of money to watch this circus. [Players] making a lot of money out there have a game like that. Both sides, not just my side. It's embarrassing."

Jose Contreras and three White Sox relievers gave up 17 hits. Contreras has an 8.60 earned-run average in his last seven starts.

"If someone kicks your [rear] or you kick somebody's [rear], but both teams are playing like that, it's embarrassing," Guillen said. "I feel bad for the fans. It was 120 degrees and they were watching that [stuff]."

Despite the defeat, the White Sox (54-40) lead the American League Central by 1 ½ games, although that didn't seem to improve Guillen's mood.

"From the first inning to the last inning, it was horrible," he said.

Boston: 2B Dustin Pedroia hit .440 over the last 20 games and has 124 hits at the All-Star break, one shy of the franchise record shared by Wade Boggs and Nomar Garciaparra.

Chicago: Closer Bobby Jenks begins a minor-league rehab assignment today and could rejoin the White Sox Friday.

Cleveland: OF Grady Sizemore has 23 homers and is the first Indians player to lead the AL in that category at the All-Star break since Jim Thome (26) in 2001.

Detroit: LHP Dontrelle Willis hopes to return to the Tigers in September, but acknowledged that the remaking of his distinctive delivery has been slow. Willis was sent in June to Class A Lakeland, Fla., but has pitched only once since.

Los Angeles: Manager Mike Scioscia said RHP John Lackey will start the Angels' next game, on Friday. The rest of the rotation will depend on how LHP Joe Saunders and RHP Ervin Santana are used in the All-Star Game.

New York: The Yankees wore black armbands in tribute to Bobby Murcer, a former outfielder and broadcaster who died Saturday.

Oakland: All-Star RHP Justin Duchscherer has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 19 consecutive games, matching an Oakland record last accomplished by Ken Holtzman in 1974 and '75.

Tampa Bay: OF Carl Crawford, in the worst hitless streak of his career (0 for 25), didn't play at Cleveland.

Texas: OF Josh Hamilton, who leads the majors with 95 RBI, failed to drive in a run for the first time in nine games.

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