162

A.J. Pierzynski was having a terrible day. He was 0 for 3 and had failed to drive in four runners in scoring position with two outs. But his day, and the White Sox's, turned around in the bottom of the ninth when Mr. Controversy started another one by getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in the winning run in a 4-3 victory over the Indians. Roberto Hernandez, the pitcher who plunked A.J., suggested that Pierzynski had moved into the pitch rather than the other way around. No matter. In horseracing parlance, the Sox broke their maiden yesterday, and thereby dropped their Magic Number to 162 over the Twins, who visit the Cell starting today and whom they trail by two games in the A.L. Central.

There were lots of contributors. Scott Podsednik was 2 for 3, with a walk, a stolen base (though he was caught stealing for the second time this season), and an RBI. Jermaine Dye had a single that led to the winning run. Joe Crede got one of his two hits (to go along with two walks) in the ninth as well. Tadahito Iguchi doubled, scored a run, and drove one in with a sacrifice fly. And wonder of wonders, Juan Uribe drew a walk. On the pitching side of the ledger, Nick Masset pitched 4.2 scoreless innings in relief of Mark Buehrle, who had to leave the game after being struck on the left forearm in the second inning. Mike MacDougal also tossed a scoreless inning, and Bobby Jenks earned the win by striking out two in 1.1 innings (after Matt Thornton blew his second save of the year). While Jenks was lucky to be the beneficiary of A.J.'s hit by pitch, Bobby did throw 16 strikes in 24 pitches.

Buehrle's injury does not appear to be serious. The x-rays were negative, and Herm Schneider, Sox trainer, told him that he wouldn't miss a turn in the rotation. We'll have to see about that, but it's good to hear that kind of medical news anyway. The x-rays remind the Update of a Yogi Berraism. Yogi explained a lot when he said after being beaned, "They x-rayed my head and found nothing."

So, despite a 35 degree day, when many of the fans came to the Cell disguised as empty seats, the Sox got their first win of the young season. And they don't have to face Grady Sizemore for a little while. Sizemore, whom Ozzie says is his favorite player, hit home runs in each of the three games of the series and made fielding plays that changed the course of the second game. Wouldn't he look good in the Sox outfield? Dream on. He's not going anywhere. But hopefully the Sox are. Go Sox!