The weather looked very iffy as Tina & I finished a bite of Thai on Western Avenue and boarded the L. About halfway to the Cell the skies opened up and it was pouring. By the time we got to the ballpark the rain had stopped. Asked & received the two worst seats available, headed inside, and positioned ourselves behind home plate. Tina & I used to work together at the phone company, she hasn’t been to a Sox game in about three years, since she went with me to a Friends Of Kevin Smith game. Kevin is DonS’s little brother.
The Twins leadoff batter Carlos Gomez gets a bunt basehit to Paul Konerko, and I’m thinking, oh no, here we go, and I’m wearing my Mark Buehrle teeshirt. I explain to Tina that Buehrle has a very good move to firstbase and might pick the runner off first. Mark gets Alexi Casilla & Mike Redmond to pop out, in between pop outs, he holds Gomez close, so that A.J. Pierzynski can throw Carlos out trying to steal.
I knew good things were going to happen when Paul Konerko tripled to center to leadoff the bottom of the 2nd. Moments later DH Jim Thome hit a flyball almost to the warning track in right, Michael Cuddyer threw a seed home, just a hair late, as the slow footed Konerko stepped on the plate, as Mike Redmond applied the tag. Nick Swisher, who seems to have found his stroke, doubled Jermaine Dye to 3rd, after Dye grounded a basehit thru the leftside of the infield, and up stepped Joe Crede. Crede, who hit two on Friday, didn’t disappoint the Saturday night crowd. They came to see fireworks, and fireworks they would see, as Joe knocked a three run bomb to left. Alexei Ramirez was doubled up on an Orlando Cabrera DP ball to close out the four run second.
The fans are treated to Dunken Donuts coffee when the Sox score in the 4th. Dye drew a one out walk, went to second on a Swisher basehit to right, Crede struckout. But Ramirez would not deny fans of free coffee as Alexei’s single to center scored Jermaine. Great hustle as Ramirez took 2nd on Gomez’ throw to 3rd. Orlando Cabrera tacked on two more with a ringing double out of the reach of Delmon Young in left. Twins starter Livan Hernandez would leave the (no) contest trailing by a touchdown, 7-0.
Delmon Young hit a meaningless two out homer to leftcenter, his 1st of the year, to put the Twins on the board, as the fans sang Take Me Out to the Ballgame with a 7-1 lead.
After pitching two innings of scoreless relief I knew Boof Bonser was in trouble when Thome & Brian Anderson singled to open the 8th. Swisher’s single drove home Thome, Nick taking 2nd on Cuddyer’s error. Joe Crede must’ve thought the fans wanted more fireworks, he gave them what they wanted, with another three run jack, this time off the leftfield fair pole, his fourth in two nights. Bonser is pulled when Ramirez gets a base knock. Matt Guerrier gets the next two hitters to close out the Sox scoring for the night at 11. The boys haven’t been doing bad since Ozzie’s tirade.
The Twins scored their second run of the night, this one off of Nick Masset in the 9th to make the final 11-2. We moved down a couple of rows to get a better view of the incredible postgame fireworks show, like the White Sox offense, it did not disappoint.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention friends at the game. There was a downpour which shutdown the game early on for 20+ minutes, but with Buehrle throwing strikes, and allowing only one run on seven hits over eight innings, we were out of there early. During the rain delay Rob stopped by with friend from work, and even provided us with a ride home after the fireworks show, Thanks Rob! Got a lovely hello & smile from Hot Chocolate Jackie, who was selling Crackerjacks & whips, she had to leave early as she wasn’t feeling well. Next Mayor, Caramel Corn Mike, gave us some delish mix of his finest, we bought some drinks to wash it down, and stay liquifide, Thanks Mike! Beer Vendor Bill asked, if I’d seen Carlos Zambrano’s 7th inning meltdown, in which he’d letup five runs? I asked, “Who does Zambrano play for?” Then sitting in front of us were Dog Groomer Lisa’s brothers, Tom & Dave, nice guys.
After Rob dropped Tina off by her car at ten, she was off to Elgin, she made it home in an hour, which wasn’t bad at all. Day game tomoorow, so I’ll have to say Good Nite!
Neither of our teams could ask for better play than we’ve gotten this week.
I actually turned on the Angels game in the 6th inning (I have been boycotting Young Jon’s starts. Trying to control my blood pressure, and my temper) and was pleasantly surprised. Could Young Jon be better than I think he is?
My nominee for “Funny Play of the Week” is Carlos Gomez playing Paul Konerko’s fly ball into a TRIPLE. Gomez looked like Bobby Darwin out there. If the great Willie Wilson had hit that ball, he would have scored and been back in the dugout by the time the Twins got the ball in.
I think Richie Allen remains the only guy to ever hit two inside-the-park home runs in the same game. There’s your trivia question for the week. The fact that Bobby Darwin was in center field for the Twins that day explains a lot about how that could happen.
I recognize that Carlos Gomez is young and is a prize prospect who has great speed and surprising power.
DonS.