Sweep Detroit!

(May 27)

Short Take:  Look mom, a pulse!

Who are these guys, and where have they been the last ten weeks?  The Chicago White Sox complete a sweep of the Detroit Tigers, a hard-earned 3-2 victory in 11 innings.  That's four in a row for you Sox Fans scoring at home.  

I heard a rumor that this team won 95 games last year.

Manager Jerry Manuel has finally figured out that playing a hot hand is far more important than trying to keep everyone on the roster in a groove--or playing a bunch of losers to cover your boss's tail-end.  Again Ray Durham batted #3 with Jose Valentin and Chris Singleton setting the table.  Royce Clayton is now in charge of setting up the napkins and paper cups for the post-game buffet.

Punk Jeff Weaver gave the Sox hitters fits, but not so much that our Pale Hose didn't get a lead.  Paul Konerko scored after doubling in the fourth inning.  Jose Valentin scored after a Harold Baines sacrifice in the fifth.  

Sure, the Sox should have gotten more than two runs, but starter Rocky Biddle was up to the task of making it hold up.  He allowed just three hits in 6.1 innings pitched.  Bob Howry bailed him out of trouble in the seventh inning, but allowed a leadoff triple in the eighth.  That led to the tying run and Sox Fans began to fret.  Keith Foulke left hurt in the ninth, replaced by Lorenzo Barcelo. 

Scoring opportunities came to naught in the eighth, ninth and tenth innings, but Sandy Alomar crushed one into the gloomiest corner of Comerica Field for a leadoff double in the eleventh.  God Bless Jose Valentin for a beautiful bunt single and our new #2 man Chris Singleton for sacrificing home Alomar's pinch runner Josh Paul with the go-ahead run.  But wait, there is more!

Barcelo couldn't hit the broadside of the barn in the bottom of the frame, getting pulled with the leadoff man on first base and an 2-0 count on the second batter, punk Dean Palmer.  The call went to Friday's hero Sean Lowe who needed just four pitches to get Palmer to fly out and induce a 6-4-3 double-play to end the game.

The Sox finally come home Monday and perhaps the boos that would have greeted them have been avoided with their vastly improved play these past four games.  Might this be Harold Baines last major league series?  Regardless of his troubles this season, he is a Sox Legend, you know.

Go easy on 'em, Sox Fans.