133

You know things are tough when that 3-3 suspended game against the Orioles last week was the best thing that happened to the White Sox in the prior seven games. Well, our long national nightmare (not to be confused with the Nationals' long nightmare, which we're experiencing here in D.C.) is over. The Sox finally won one, after six consecutive losses. It took Gavin Floyd's holding the Twins without a hit until one out in the ninth, as well as the Sox scoring more runs than they did in the entire four-game Toronto series to do it. But they got 'er done last night, 7-1.

The Update wants to go on record as admitting we were wrong about Floyd. We thought he was the weak link in the starting rotation, but he's done fine work this year. Floyd has a 3-1 record and a 2.50 ERA, fifth best in the league. And his performance last night was no one-hit wonder (despite his giving up only one hit). About a month ago against the Tigers, Floyd lost a no-hitter with one out in the eighth inning. It looks like the kid really can pitch.

The Update wasn't wrong about the lack of hitting, however. Last night's 11-hit outburst was an aberration for the team with the lowest batting average in the league. Paul Konerko, who we thought simply had a bad year last year and would bounce back, is hitting only .220 this year -- good for 76th in the league. Even worse, four other starters have averages lower than Paulie: Orlando Cabrera, .214 (78th in the league); Jim Thome, .209 (81st); Nick Swisher, .196 (86th); and Juan Uribe, .195 (Sportsnetwork.com doesn't even bother to rank him). Even those hitting better than Konerko are nothing to write home (or to you) about, but we'll do it anyway: A.J. Pierzynski at .282 (28th in the league) leads a mediocre pack: Carlos Quentin, .280 (34th); Jermaine Dye, .265 (49th); and Joe Crede, .257 (57th). With hitters like that, it's hard to blame Ozzie for what's going on, inflatable dolls notwithstanding. Now, Kenny Williams ....

Anyway, the losing streak is over. The Sox have a Magic Number of 133. Despite their tailspin and Minnesota's hot streak, they're only one game behind the first-place Twins, in what's turning out to be a surprisingly weak division. The Sox are ahead of Cleveland by a half game and Detroit by 2.5. A win tonight puts the Good Guys back in first, even if it gives them only a .500 record. Go Sox!