A Victory!!!

(April 18)

Short Take:  Finally!!!   

We win!  Sox Fans, we win!!!  Hallelujah, Sox Fans-- we win!!!

In some circles losing is cute, but that's not the case on the South Side.  The Sox had to come from behind and hold on to win this one, and wouldn't you know the game was in doubt right up to the last out in the ninth.  Sox Fans went through heart palpitations before it was over, but they all look the same in the win column.  Sox win 6-4 over Detroit.

Book it!

Almost-rookie Mark Buerhle pitched hard and was impressive pitching into the seventh inning.  All three runs allowed came off two dingers.  He only allowed three other hits in the game.  He was down 1-0 and given the anemic Sox offense, looked to be a loser.  That's until Jose Valentin came to the plate in the third inning.  With Sandy Alomar and Ray Durham both on base, Valentin crushed one into the rightfield bullpen and pushed the Sox on top 3-1.  That turned the tide.  

The Sox added three more runs in the fourth when the Sox strung together a walk, three singles, and a sacrifice to score three runs on three hits.  It was a beautiful thing, completely missing from the Sox attack so far this season.

Sox Fans keep the Maalox (or something stronger) near the sofa because it was only the fourth inning and the Sox only had a five-run lead.  Sure enough, Detroit would come back.  A two-run homer in the seventh chased Buerhle.  Reliever Gary Glover ran into trouble to start the eighth, allowing the first two runners to reach base.  Taking no chances, Jerry Manuel went to his closer Keith Foulke.  He was wild, but got the job done, allowing just one run with a walk to force in a run.  Foulke earned his fourth save the hard way with two innings work and three walks.  

Tonight, Sox fans weren't picky.