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The White Sox started Mark Buehrle.

The Indians got to him early.

Dye and Thome home runs

Couldn't spoil the Tribe's fun

In a game that really was squirrely.

It was squirrely all right. Sox ace, Mark Buehrle, got pounded for 7 runs and 7 hits in only 1.2 innings, leaving him with an ERA of 37.80. Cleveland ace, C.C. Sabathia, gave up 5 runs and 6 hits, including 2 homers to Jim Thome, who before yesterday was 0 for 11 against him. The Sox blew a 2-0 lead, then the Indians reciprocated, giving up their 7-2 advantage, then the Sox politely allowed their hosts to put three more on the board before closing with a run of their own.

Nick Masset, who wound up with the last roster spot primarily because he was out of options and Ehrin Wasserman wasn't, turned out to be the best pitcher in the game, tossing 4.1 innings of scoreless relief. Boone Logan made it seem like the bullpen problems of last year were just a distant memory when he followed Masset with another scoreless inning. But newcomer Octavio Dotel brought us back to the future by allowing a bases-loaded double and 3 Indian runs, leaving him with a "better than Buehrle but not by much" ERA of 27.00.

Remember how Pablo Ozuna was going to start at second against Sabathia because Ozuna owned him? Well, Juan Uribe got the start instead, and he didn't own -- or even rent -- anyone, striking out 3 times and botching a sacrifice bunt attempt. Newcomer Alexi Ramirez, he of the lofty spring training batting average also struck out 3 times and was the only Sox batter not to get a hit. Hey, we had 13 of them, including 3 home runs (the other was by Jermaine Dye), as well as 5 walks, leading to our 8 runs, which is usually enough to win.

But on the other side of the ledger, there were the 11 men left on base and 11 strikeouts and newcomer Orlando Cabrera's being called out on interference at second base and the pitching. The same two teams go at it tomorrow, and at least it didn't snow this year in Cleveland. Go Sox!