No doubt, mama!

(May 13)

Short Take:  A quick start leads to victory

Just hours after the White Sox were buried in the first inning of a game, they came out swinging against Texas and left the outcome of Sunday's Mother's Day game beyond any doubt.  Four runs on two dingers in the first frame set the Sox on course to a 6-3 victory, taking the series and ending the homestand on a positive note.

Hey mom, we won!

The tone for the game was set early.  Texas touched Sox starter James Baldwin for two runs on a Rafael Palmiero homer, and Sox Fans slumped in their seats at the memory of what happened in Saturday night's game when Jon Garland did nothing but serve watermelons.

But ah, this wasn't Jon Garland pitching today.  Baldwin went right after the next hitter, induced a groundout to end the inning, and things began to happen.

Batting leadoff, Jose Valentin drew a walk.  Ray Durham, are you taking notes?  Next Tony Graffanino did the same.  Royce Clayton, are you taking notes?  Carlos Lee grounded into a fielder's choice but hot-hitting Magglio Ordonez didn't miss when he swung, depositing the ball beyond the wall in center field.  3-2 Sox, and they never looked back.  

Herbert Perry was the next to do damage.  His solo shot padded the lead in an important way because Texas wasn't done scoring either.  They cut the lead to 4-3 from a sacrifice fly after a lucky leadoff double in the third inning.  

Would the Sox fold, No way, baby!  Instead the Sox added two runs of their own in the seventh when Carlos Lee hit the third Sox homer of the day, scoring Graffanino in the process.

Baldwin picked up his second win with six innings work.  Kelly Wunsch had a good outing with two scoreless innings, and Keith Foulke nailed it down in the ninth for his seventh save of the season.

More good news.  Kerry Wood threw balls and then threw a tantrum, as the Flubbies get swept out of Saint Louis and first place.  How that mother didn't get tossed for arguing balls and strikes is anyone's guess.

Sox Fans, it's safe to listen to sports talk radio again.