158

Now that's more like it!  The White Sox broke out of a season-long slump Monday, racking up new highs in runs (8), hits (14), and home runs (3), en route to an 8-7 win over the Blue Jays.  It was the third 11-inning game of the year for the Good Guys, but their first extra-inning victory.  It also marked the first time in 2010 that the Sox won back-to-back games or won on the road (of course, it was the first game away from the Cell).  However, one thing wasn't new: The Sox have hit multiple homers in each of their three wins and none of their four losses..

Four Sox players racked up multi-hit games: Gordon Beckham, 2 for 5; Andruw Jones, 3 for 4, with two homers and a single (along with a walk and four RBI); Alex Rios, 3 for 5; and surprise, surprise, surprise, Sgt. Carter (never thought I'd be quoting Gomer Pyle), Mark Teahen, 3 for 5 (with three RBI).

Let's review the scoring: In the second inning, Paul Konerko walked and scored on Jones's first homer of the game.  In the third, Juan Pierre singled and stole second; Beckham walked; and Carlos Quentin singled, scoring Pierre and advancing Becks, who scored from second on Jones's single.  In the sixth, Jones struck again, homering with the bases emplty, followed by a Rios single and stolen base; Teahen's single plated Rios.  In the ninth, Teahen continued the longball fireworks by smashing a home run to tie the game.  Finally, in the eleventh, Kotsay pinch hit for Alexei Ramirez (0 for 4 on the night) and singled; Omar Vizquel pinch ran for Kotsay and scored on Teahen's triple, which proved to be the winning run.

The batting heroics were necessary because Jake Peavy struggled in his five and two-thirds inning pitched, giving up seven runs (all earned) on eight hits and three walks.  Fortunately, the bull pen was superb, holding Toronto scoreless over the next five and one third innings.  After Randy Williams walked the only man he faced, Sergio Santos threw one and one-third of an inning, striking out two.  J.J. Putz tossed one inning of no hit, no run, two strikout ball.  Matt Thornton improved on that, striking out four men in two innnings, without giving up a hit or run.  And Bobby Jenks picked up his second save of the year by pitching a scoreless 11th, though he did allow two walks.

With the win, the Sox improve to 3-4, which leaves the team 2.5 games behind Minnesota.  The Twins won the first game played in brand new, open air, Target Field -- "expect more, pay less."  The Magic Number drops by two to 158, and there's joy in Mudville.  Go Sox!