55

For those of you wondering why The Update didn't publish the last two days, the explanation is simple. This is our 200th blog entry and we were not about to waste it on a White Sox loss. After two defeats to start the series, the Good Guys finally won one in the Metrodome -- their first of the year -- beating the Twinkies, 8-3.

Charter subscriber Bob "Carnac" Koza predicted that Gavin Floyd would "pitch a gem," and that's exactly what Floyd did. The Sox hurler earned his 11th win (eighth best in the American League) by allowing only one run on five hits in 7.2 innings. He struck out four, walked only one, and lowered his ERA to 3.43 (10th best in the A.L.). Matt Thornton finished up the eighth inning and retired the only man he faced. Bobby Jenks, who needed the work, pitched the ninth in a non-save situation and was less than sharp. Fortunately, Jenks had an 8-1 lead to work with, so the two runs he allowed were essentially meaningless.

The Sox collected their eight runs by banging out 15 hits, at least one by each starter. Carlos Quentin had three, including his league-leading 28th home run in the first inning to give the Sox a 1-0 lead, and a three-run double in the fourth that broke the game open. Alexei Ramirez added a three-run homer in the seventh to put the game out of reach at 8-1. We know that Evan Longoria is the odds-on favorite to win Rookie of the Year, but Ramirez continues to make a case that he deserves some recognition too.

One Sox player who got some press on Wednesday was Orlando Cabrera. ESPN's baseball guru, Buster Olney mentioned OC as possible trade bait to obtain closer Huston Street of the A's. (We cringe every time Kenny Williams starts dealing with Billy Beane, thinking back to how Beane seemingly kept getting the better of Kenny in the book Moneyball.) Olney said the Dodgers are looking for a shortstop, implying that there could be a three way deal with Oakland and L.A. Cabrera is probably gone after the season, but we'd like to see him finish out the year with the Sox. If OC departs, presumably Ramirez will go from being the shortstop of the future to being the shortstop of the present, with Juan Uribe taking over second. Or we suppose that Uribe could go back to short and Ramirez could remain at the keystone sack. Either way, that means Uribe would be taking Cabrera's spot in the order -- which doesn't make us feel all warm and fuzzy. We'll know on Thursday afternoon.

The win shaves the Magic Number to 55 and returns the lead to 1.5 games, ensuring that the Sox will leave Minnesota in first place. They've been there every day starting with May 17, a period of 74 days, and counting. The Sox came through with first place on the line and another win in the finale on Thursday restores the lead to 2.5 games -- where it was when the series began. Go Sox!