When we're hopefully looking back the end of the year on a successful season, maybe we'll look at this Rangers series as the time when the demons of late 2006 were finally exorcised.
The Sox followed up a memorable evening that saw Mark Buehrle throw a no hitter, by taking the rubber match of a 3 game series with the Rangers thanks to a 3 run homer by AJ Pierzynski, a clutch 2 out RBI single by Joe Crede, and an insurance 2 run dong by Rob "Mackwiak" Mackowiak (the Comcast graphic after his home run said "Home Run- Mackwiak").
Sammy hit his second home run of the series to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead early on in this game. Good for him. He is gladiator.
Game Scores- Padilla TEX 47, Vazquez SOX 55
The Rangers walked TEN White Sox hitters in this game. So hopefully the Sox have learned that patience can be a virtue at the plate, and parlay that into success in the big series they have this weekend:
SOX AT DETROIT TIGERS (9-6)
Fri- John Danks (0-2, 3.97, 52.5 AvgGS, 49 Last GS)
v. Chad Durbin (0-1, 12.46, 24.5 Avg, 23 Last)
This is a great opportunity for Danks to pick up his first major league victory. It's a mystery why Durbin is even in the starting rotation, as the Tigers have to have better options than a 30 year old journeyman who has been pasted in both times out this year. Of course, for Danks to win will require the Sox to abolish their tradition of hitting like the Lovely Ladies everytime he pitches. Simply put, it may sound alarmist to say this, but when the tallyman tallys the bananas at the end of the season, and the Sox can't say they were able to get a win against the Tigers when Chad Durbin was pitching, that won't be a good thing.
Sat- Jose Contreras (1-2, 6.00, 42.7 Avg, 59 Last)
v. Nate Robertson (2-1, 1.80, 60.3 Avg, 58 Last)
The Sox have historically done very well against Robertson, who has been one of the better pitchers in baseball in this young season. He is only 4-6 with a 5.08 ERA lifetime against the Sox. Contreras has a 0.82 ERA in his last 2 starts after an awful opener.
Sun- Jon Garland (0-1, 4.66, 51.7 Avg, Last 49)
v. Justin Verlander (1-0, 1.42, 64.7 Avg, Last 56)
As bad as the Sox are against guys like Johan Santana and CC Sabathia, is how good they've been against Verlander. Verlander is 1-4 with a 7.82 lifetime against the Sox.
There really isn't a game in this series that the Sox can't win. They really need to get a win in the books in a series against a division opponent, being that they've already dropped 2 series to Cleveland this year, and split another with Minnesota. If the Sox can get 2 of 3 here, they are right in the mix in the Central, if not, they'll still be a notch below the other 3 teams they are in competition with.
AL CENTRAL ROUNDUP
YANKEES 8, (6-6) INDIANS 6
Eric Wedge not walking A-Rod, who has been hitting walkoff home runs just about every day this season, with men on 2nd and third and 2 out in the bottom of the ninth of a one-run game to avoid having his right handed "closer" Joe Borowski face the left handed hitting Jason Giambi kind of reminded me of that Simpsons episode where Mr. Burns pinch hits Homer for Daryl Strawberry for the lefty-righty matchup. It's called playing the percentages.
Game Scores- Carmona CLE 53, Rasner NYY 53
Up Next- 3 at TB
(10-5) TWINS 6, MARINERS 5
The Twin rebound from a sucky home series against the Devil Ray to go out west and sweep the M's, with a little help from Felix Hernandez' elbow. I'll note that the Twins blew this game open in the seventh with the help of not one but two bunt singles. They find ways to score.
Game Scores- Santana MIN 69, Washburn SEA 44
Up Next- 3 at KC
Le Tigre and the Royale had the day off. We know what the Tigers are doing this weekend, and KC is hosting the Twins.
Game Score Corner
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Yesterday's Best
78 RICH HILL, Cubs at Braves
Hill now has 2 of the the top 10 game scores of this season. The only other guy who can say that is Felix Hernandez. I love how the Cubs prospects you hear about ad nauseum always flop (Corey Patterson, Hee Seop Choi, Mark Prior, Angel Guzman, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera), while the ones you hear nothing about turn out to be studs. I think there is a fundamental problem in the way the Cub evaluate their talent, and Hill is Exhibit A.
Yesteray's Worst
11 ZACK DUKE, Pirates at Brewers
Arr ye mateys....Arrr.
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