Monday, May 24, 2010

127

If only the White Sox were in the National League.  By taking two out of three from the Marlins over the weekend, the Sox improved their all-time interleague record to 130-102, a .560 winning percentage, which works out to a 91-71 record over a 162-game season.  That includes a disproportionately high number of games against the Cubs -- 72 -- in which the Sox have only a 37-35 advantage, for a .514 winning percentage, which translates to an 83-79 season.  Against the rest of the N.L., the Sox are a robust 93-67, .581, or a 94-68 record over 162 games.  Maybe the Sox should have switched leagues rather than the Brewers a few years back.  Of course, then the Good Guys wouldn't have been able to use the DH, and that must make some difference since their record at the Cell in interleague play is 71-45 (.612, 99-63 projected for the season) as opposed to 59-57 in N.L. parks (.509, 82-80).  Anyway, on to the games this past weekend.

Friday saw Mark "of Zero" Buehrle win his first game since April 11, by pitching eight innings of shutout ball, while allowing the Fish only three hits and three walks.  Sergio Santos mopped up the 8-0 victory by striking out two in an inning of scoreless relief.  Alexei Ramirez had five RBI on a double and a homer, and Mark Kotsay homered as well, one of his three hits on the day.  The team had a dozen, with every starter except Gordon Beckham collecting at least one.

On Saturday, the Sox won consecutive games for the first time in almost a month and only their third winning streak of the year.  The Good Guys again reached the double-digit mark in hits in the 4-1 triumph over Florida.  Alex Rios did most of the damage, going 2 for 3, including a homer, and driving in three runs.  Paul Konerko and Carlos Quentin also had two hits each among the club's 10-hit total.  Gavin Floyd "the Barber" was razor sharp, scattering six hits and two walks and giving up only one run over 6.1 innings.  Santos threw another scoreless inning -- this time the eighth -- and Bobby Jenks had his first one-two-three inning in recent memory to earn the save, and apparently reclaim the closer's role.

Sunday was a different story, however.  Freddy Garcia didn't last even three innings, serving up seven hits and two walks that led to seven runs allowed.  Scott Linebrink threw 1.2 innings without giving up a run, but the damage was already done.  So, it hardly mattered that Randy Williams let in five more runs on eight hits in 2.1 IP, and Tony Pena gave up a run on three hits in 2.2 IP.  Of course, the Sox wouldn't have won if the pitchers had allowed just one run since the home team didn't score at all, garnering only seven hits.  The 13-0 game is best not spoken of anymore than we already have.

The Sox are still 7.5 games back of the Twins as they return to playing the A.L., in this case the Indians.  Go Sox!  Beat the Tribe!

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