I ended up not going to Motown to see the White Sox come back for a four game split against the Tigers, due to Oma’s broken hip (she’s doing better). But was able to see the Sox battle the Twins at the Cell in this past weekend’s three game series.
8/25/06: Javier Vazquez allowed “Little” Nick Punto’s 1st homer in the 6th inning, cutting the lead to 3-1. It should have been 4-1, but for “Waving” Joey Cora sending Ross Gload on a one out home plate suicide mission with leftfielder Jason Tyner easily gunning down Gload who would have scored on a Scott Podsednik’s fly to center if only he’d been held at 3rd. Then Neal Cotts was brought in to allow a 6th inning single to Justin Morneau, then David Riske was taken over the fence by Tori Hunter’s three run bomb, but A.J. Pierzynski knotted the game at four with a sixth inning solo blast off side arming righthander Pat Neshek. It was a tough one to lose when Jason Bartlett knocked in the go ahead run in the 9th, final score 5-4 MinnTwins. It was especially tough because we gave them an out when Joey sent Gload home and at least another when we allowed Javier Vazquez to start his 3rd time through the lineup, then brought in Cotts, and then brought in Riske. Ozzie Guillen needs to see the urgency of the situation.
8/26/06: Struggling Jose Contreras was facing “Mr. Automatic” Johan Santana. Rob Mackowiak, a lefthanded hitter, was in centerfield, despite lefty Santana on the mound. Mackowiak misplayed two balls that cost the Sox three runs. MVP candidate Jermaine Dye took closer Joe Nathan out for a two run 9th inning game tying blast, tied at 7. It was remarkable that we scored seven with Johan on the hill. Plus it could have been over, but Juan Uribe’s 9th inning error scored and Luis Castillo’s 9th inning great play in the field prevented a run from scoring. “Little” Nick Punto, batting righthanded, hit a two out shot off Ross Gload’s glove to score the go ahead run from 3rd. Gload was playing even with the bag at first, respecting the possibility of a push bunt. I felt a little guilty, having just yelled, “watch the bunt!”
8/27/06: Mark Buehrle allowed a first inning run. But this time the White Sox wore their hitting shoes, scoring twice in the 3rd. A.J. Pierzynski blasted a two run shot & Joe Crede knocked a solo drive in the 5th and then Juan Uribe put the game on ice with 6th inning a solo tater, all off starter Carlos Silva, 6-1 Good Guys. It was really tough to get out there for this one after playing give away the two nights before. After Saturday night’s game I said, there was no way I could do it again. But it was such a beautiful day, I couldn’t resist.
Couldn’t make it out there for any of the D*Rays series as my niece & nephew were in town and I travel to KC tomorrow morning at 6:00 AM to see the Sox & Yankees battle the Royals in back to back three game sets.
