Shutout!!!

(May 26)

Short Take:  Buerhle makes 3 straight for Sox!

This isn't exactly what Sox Fans had in mind when the season began, but clearly this is the best the Sox have played since the season began.  Once again the team receives a clutch pitching performance, this time from lefty Mark Buerhle.  Even more important, the Sox offense gave him plenty of run support (including some late-inning runs) and the Sox cruise to an 8-0 victory over Detroit.  They go for the three-game sweep Sunday evening on national TV.

Yeah, baby!

So what was the key sequence to this game?  Was it the two first inning runs set up by Jose Valentin's leadoff double? Nope.  It came in the bottom-half of that same frame.  With one out, runners on second and third base, Mark Buerhle faced Detroit's top hitter Tony Clark.  

Sox Fans, how many times have we faced this situation--the Sox get a quick lead and then our pitcher gives it right back and then some?  Anyone who has been following this team could see it coming and was already grabbing for sofa pillows to throw at the TV screen.  We've been here before!

Ah, but this time was different.  Buerhle went right after Clark.  He threw a strike with his first pitch, got Clark to foul off strike two, came in again for another foul, wasted one, and then struck out Clark swinging.  Clutch City, Sox Fans!

Punk Dean Palmer was next and flied out on the very first pitch and Mark Buerhle walked off the mound unscathed.  He cruised from there.

Meanwhile Sox bats showed real signs of life.  Again Jerry Manuel fielded a line up with Jose Valentin leading off (playing shortstop), Chris Singleton #2 in centerfield, and Ray Durham #3.  Those three accounted for eight of the Sox's twelve hits and six runs.  Finally the top of the order is working!

Yes, the bottom of the order continues to struggle, and yes Jose Valentin committed an error at shortstop.  Predictably, Valentin's error was inconsequential, Detroit never scored.  You can bet the morons at ESPN's Baseball Tonight will miss that little detail.   Let's hope Jerry Manuel and Kenny Williams have enough brains to ignore Peter Gammons and the rest of the brainless dolts who think Valentin is hurting us.

National TV on Sunday.  Here's Joe Morgan's chance to show how little he knows about the Sox, too.