Power Surge!

(May 28)

Short Take:  Five Straight!

Coming home off what doubtlessly was the most frustrating road trip in two years, the Sox couldn't have known exactly what greeting Comiskey's fans might give them.  What the Sox got were over 20,000 Sox Fans who cheered, paid attention, and offered standing ovations for deserving performances.  It was a power surge to behold, the first time this entire season to see it at home.  The Sox beat Toronto early and often, 6-3 on Memorial Day.

Jon Garland was the spot starter for the injured David Wells.  Though he has pitched well in the bullpen of late, he looked rocky the first inning, reminding Sox Fans why he got sent to the bullpen in the first place.  To his credit he didn't flinch in a key sequence to Raul Mondesi, pitching three quick strikes to punch him out with two runners on, then getting the third out inducing a grounder to end the inning.

Should we count Garland as another of Skip Bayless's "overrated phenoms"?  After Kip Wells', Mark Buerhle's, Rocky Biddle's, and Garland's performances, it's clear Clueless's stupidity grows by the day.  How long before the Tribune shows him the door?  The Dallas Morning News didn't hesitate!

Garland would get all the support he needed in the second inning.  The top of the order remains red-hot thanks to Jerry Manuel not screwing around with it.  Jose Valentin two-run dinger highlighted a four-run/six-hit inning.  How did the Sox do it?  Baines, Clayton, and Ramirez were nowhere to be found.

Magglio Ordonez added a two-run dinger of his own in the fourth inning.  He also added an rbi double.  It's a beautiful thing to see the Sox beating up the opposition's pitching staff!

Meanwhile Valentin and Ray Durham were turning nifty double-plays to end Toronto scoring threats.   Nobody failed to communicate or back up a throw.  Gee, it almost seemed like the Sox played better defense with Valentin at shortstop.  Was Kenny Williams paying attention?

The Sox ripped the Jays for 13 hits, shared between seven players.  Hitters 1 through 4 (Valentin, Chris Singleton, Durham, and Ordonez) had ten of those.  It was enough to bring tears to suffering Sox Fans' eyes!

Perhaps the best highlight of them all came in the seventh inning when Garland was finally relieved.  After 6.2 innings of one-run, four-hit baseball including four strikeouts, Sox Fans gave Garland a standing ovation.  Here's a guy who was booed just three weeks ago.  It had to be especially gratifying.

Sox Fans love an honest effort and hate to lose.  Maybe we can warm up to these 2001 White Sox.  So for the first time this season...

Let's Go Go Go White Sox -- Chicago's Proud of You!!!