I’m going to Minnesota Sunday to see the White Sox battle the Twins in a key four game series. Never been to this indoor ballpark(?), not really looking forward to it, heard nothing but bad things about this stadium, but the White Sox need my support. I’m not bringing my laptop, as I’ll be coming back via Greyhound overnite 7/31-8/1, then hopping into a car in Chicago, and then going up to Waupaca for my nephew’s 4th birthday (BIGTIME PARTY with ponies & everything). So I’ll be filling you in on my Twinkie experience when I get to Waupaca. CLuke & his family will be with me the first two games, then they’re going to Crivitz for the rest of their vacation.
After watching the lifeless White Sox this past Monday night, at least it was halfprice night, but I was so tired & out of it. The game was dull & boring, even though Tade, Al, Anothony, NickyV were there. Crowe Dog even made an appearance. Sox got clocked, I was there, streak over!
I really was in no mood to go to the game Tuesday night, but I went anyway, and am very glad I did. Mark Buehrle was moved up in the rotation so he could attend his grandfather’s funeral, he tossed a gem. My other two favorite players also had big games, Nick Swisher hit a three run homer & Alexei Ramirez hit a grand slam. 10-2 Good Guys and I had a new streak going.
Clayton Richard made his major league debut one day later than originally planned. Richard struckout the first batter he faced Ian Kinsler, but then the 2nd batter he faced Michael Young took him yard, welcome to the big leagues kid! Jim Thome ripped a three run bomb in the bottom of the 1st to give Clayton a 3-1 lead, but it didn’t last as Texas scored five more times, benefitting from sloppy fielding, 4 Sox errors in the game.
Carlos Quentin cut the deficit to 6-4 with a 5th inning solo shot. Boone Logan allowed two runs in the top of the 7th to make it 8-4. Then Ozzie Guillen went out to ask what was said between Swisher & the homeplate umpire in the 7th, was tossed, and went crazy! There were three or four questionable calls on pitches that were clearly outside that were called strikes. Nick walked after Guillen was ejected, but then Quentin grounded into a doubleplay, leaving a runner at 3rd with two out. Jermaine Dye doubled home Cabrera, but it all seemed too little, too late.
Chicago trailed 8-5 going into the bottom of the 8th inning. Paul Konerko just missed putting one on the board, and settled for a leadoff double. After Toby Hall popped out, Alexei Ramirez plated Paulie with a ground single to left, and then Ramirez went to 2nd on a wild pitch. Officially Juan Uribe was credited with a double on which Alexei didn’t score from 2nd, but here’s what really happened. Ramirez held up on Uribe’s grounder up the middle, not wanting to get caught in no man’s land, then went to 3rd when the ball made it to the outfield, Juan took 2nd when the outfielder’s throw was toward home, good baserunning by Uribe. With runners on 2nd & 3rd with one out Orlando Cabrera crushed a Eddie Guardado offering over the leftfield wall, only to have the wind bring the high drive back for a sac fly rather than a three run homer. Swisher walked on four pitches, none of them close. And then Carlos Quentin hit C.J. Wilson’s first pitch for a no-doubter to left, 10-8 White Sox.
Bobby Jenks walked Texas’ leadoff hitter in the 9th Josh Hamilton, but then settled down to get the save, WELCOME BACK BOBBY JENKS! I sat down when he entered the game. I’m not superstitious, but I know what works.
Some other happenings in the game. Dick went to the bathroom when Carlos Quentin hit his 2nd homer, that trick always works. We met the agent who represents Juan Uribe, Pablo Ozuna, Miguel Olivo, and Damaso Marte, he seems like a nice guy. Jermaine Dye made a great diving catch in right to keep the Rangers at bay, I guess his knees okay. The Number One Webgem of the day was turned in by Alexei Ramirez. Ramirez was running in at full speed, backhanded the ball with the web of his glove, and flipped it to Paulie, who caught it barehanded for the out. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s always nice to be out at the ballpark for a day game in the middle of the week, this one was extra special, and it was great to see Nancy Faust’s smiling face, she’s such a nice lady!