48

The White Sox meat loafed the A' s in Oakland over the weekend. They won the first two games but were unable to pull off the sweep -- again. The A's usually have their way with the Sox when they come to visit, so winning two out of three really is better than we expected.

The series had a little of everything. Friday's game featured a big lead that the Sox let slip away and then reclaimed on a walk-off homer by Alexei Ramirez in the 10th inning for the 8-7 win. Jose Contreras pitched down to our lowered expectations, but the bullpen came in to throw 5.2 innings of scoreless relief. Ramon Castro also hit a homer and Jermaine Dye had three RBI to pace the Sox hitting attack.

Saturday was a blowout, 8-1. Gavin Floyd was everything that Contreras was not. Floyd gave up only one run in seven innings, and the bullpen -- Scott Linebrink and Randy Williams for one inning each -- shut down the A's. Floyd received big-time run support as Jayson Nix hit a big home run and Jim Thome tied Reggie Jackson for 12th place on the all-time home run list with his 563rd, an opposite field poke.

Sunday was another nail-biter, complete with a walk-off home run by Oakland's Mark Ellis that gave the A's a 3-2 win. The Sox wasted a fine effort by John Danks, who lasted 7.1 innings while allowing only two runs on eight hits and a walk. This time, the bullpen betrayed Danks, with Octavio Dotel blowing the save, and Bobby Jenks serving up the game-winner to take the loss.

In personnel news, Jake Peavy pitched well in his minor league rehab assignment on Thursday. It looks like he'll be ready by August 28, but it could be September 3 versus the sCrUBS. Meanwhile, the Sox plan to start Freddy Garcia, one of heroes of the 2005 post-season, on Tuesday. Heaven help us! Garcia was released by the Mets earlier this year after washing out in minor league games, and now he's the anwer to the White Sox fith starter questions?? Let's hope so, but more likely, no.

Ater the weekend's activities, Sox are now 2.5 games behind the Tigers and have a Magic Number of 48. One of the talking heads on SportsCenter said it was too early to be keeping track of such things. Shh! Don't tell him about The Update, which started keeping track of this season's numbers before Opening Day. Anyway, the Good Guys return home to host KC. Time for some wins. Go Sox!