125

I was about to write about the ineptitude of the White Sox offense and how they'd scored only 10 runs on 27 hits in their last four games. Good thing I waited since the Sox exploded for 17 runs and 24 hits Monday night against the Angels in Anaheim. In case you're wondering -- and it's not a stupid question given last Thursday's 20-1 loss -- the Sox won, 17-3. John Danks (6 IP, 3 R, 4 H) was the beneficiary of the reinvigorated bats. Jermaine Dye (12th), Paul Konerko (7th), and Jim Thome (8th) all hit home runs. It was Thome's 549th, to move him past former Phillie star Mike Schmidt into sole possession of 13th place on the all-time list. Leadoff man Scott Podsednik and newly installed No. 2 hitter Alexei Ramirez each had four hits. It must have been contagious, as each starter got at least one hit.

The win followed a surprising 4-3 loss to the Pirates on Sunday. Surprising because Bobby Jenks blew his first save opportunity of the season, after converting his first 10 chances. Jenks wasn't the only one who failed to help Mark Buehrle pick up a win that he did (7 IP, 1 R) and didn't deserve (12 H). Octavio Dotel also gave up a run -- only the second time all year -- wasting Brian Anderson's two-run homer and Buehrle's escape act.

Sunday's loss kept the Sox from sweeping the Bucs, as Sox pitchers pitched back-to-back shutouts in the first two games of the series. Clayton Richard won his first game of the year on Saturday by throwing seven innings of scoreless, six-hit ball. Gavin Floyd was even better on Friday, shutting out Pittsburgh for eight innings on just two hits. The two skunks marked the first time in baseball history that a team had thrown consecutive shutouts after allowing 20 runs the game before. A somewhat dubious distinction given what you have to do in the first game even to make it into the category.

Anyway, taking two of three from the Pirates (love that interleague play) and the opener from the Angels means the Magic Number is down to 125. The Sox remain 5.5 games behind the Tigers, though, as Detroit keeps up its winning ways. More West Coast ball on tap and yours truly will be traveling on business, so no Update tomorrow. Go Sox!