Couldn’t get tickets for the White Sox in the World Series in my own home town. A part of me knows if I’d just go down there, I’d get in, especially with my Baseball Zealot connections. But another part of me is quite satisfied sitting in the comfort of a nice warm living room or a crowded bar with friends, rather than the cold and rainy nights in the elements by myself. Decided to watch game #1 at Big Mike’s place. Thought there might be a gaggle of Sox fans there, but for the most part it was Big Mike, his wife, RobbyT showed up for the middle three innings, and myself. When I got to Big Mike’s place his wife was watching Hogzilla, but luckily it ended just before the first pitch. We had HOT chilli, some guacamole & chips, and some beverages du joir. What could be better? Well maybe a White Sox winner!
Roger Clemens was matched up against Jose Contreras. It was the first time a 300 game winner started game #1 of the World Series since Walter “Big Train” Johnson in 1925. The third batter for the White Sox Jermaine Dye wasted no time jumping on a 3-2 Clemens pitch for a solo home run, putting the Sox up 1-0. In the top of the 2nd Mike Lamb took Contreras over the CF wall to knot things at one. The Pale Hose had runners at 1st & 3rd with nobody out in the bottom of two when Carl Everett & Aaron Rowand got base knocks. A.J. Pierzynski hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring Everett. Joe Crede grounded up A.J, Juan Uribe doubled to center driving in Pierzynski, and Scott Podsednik K’d to end the frame, but the Sox had scored two. That was the end of Rocket Clemens who left after throwing 54 pitches in only two innings of work, he left with a hamstring problem. The Astros tied the game in their next raps in this see-saw affair. Brad Ausmus singled, was forced out by Adam Everett, went to second on Craig Biggio’s single, both runners moved up on Willy Tavares’s sac bunt, and scored on Lance Berkman’s double to right, and the game was tied at three. In the bottom of four Joe Crede rode a Wandy Rodriguez pitch over the centerfield fence to give the Good Guys a one run lead. Jose Contreras let up a leadoff eighth inning double to Willy Taveras before giving way to Neal Cotts. It was kind of funny too as the Fox-TV crew did a promo for WebMD showing a pitcher with a rusty shoulder, illustrating that the White Sox bullpen would be rusty after four straight complete games by the starters. Lance Berkman sent Taveras to third on a single off a slider, before Cotts settled down and went to work. Neal got Morgan Ensberg on strikes and then fanned Mike Lamb, and then gave way to Bobby Jenks. Jenks was called in by an animated Ozzie Guillen, who motioned he wanted the wide, big guy from the pen to face Jeff Bagwell. Bagwell who is still recovering from mid-season shoulder surgery didn’t have a chance against Bobby’s high 100 MPH heat. Threat ended!
The White Sox added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth when A.J. Pierzynski singled off Russ Springer and came around to score on a Scott Podsednik triple. Bobby Jenks K’d two more in the 9th to close it out, he only threw one curveball. Final Score 5-3 Good Guys! Three more wins to go!