Tuesday, May 10, 2011

138

This is crazy talk, but if the White Sox rip off another 25-5 streak like they did last year, well ....  What got me thinking like this is the team's first three-game winning streak of the season, courtesy of an 8-0 thrashing of the Angels last night.

Edwin Jackson pitched brilliantly -- no runs, only five hits and a walk in 7.0 innings -- and finally got some run support.  The Sox hadn't scored a single run for EJ in his last four starts, so yesterday's offensive breakout was welcome indeed.

The Good Guys pounded out 11 hits with six players reaching base at least twice.  Carlos Quentin was The Man, doubling twice, poking his seventh homer of the season, and driving in five runs.  Alexei Ramirez was 2 for 5 with a home run.  Adam Dunn posted a 2 for 4 night with a walk.  Paul Konerko was "only" 1 for 3, but had two bases on balls.  A.J. Pierzynski had a single and a walk in five plate appearances.  And Gordon Beckham contributed a 2 for 4 night, including a four-bagger.

Although pitching a shutout guarantees a win, outhitting the Angels (11-6) correlates well with a victory, as the Sox improved their record to 11-5 when they collect more safeties than the opposition.  They're a terrible 2-16 when getting outhit.  And they're 1-1 when the two teams match each other's hit totals. 

During the winning streak, the Sox have scored 19 runs on 40 hits, and only the Rays have a longer win streak going than the Sox.  By the way, this time last year, the Pale Hose had a one-game better record of 15-21, so there's hope that the season isn't a lost cause.

The good news is that the Sox are ahead of the Twins -- a position we'd have signed up for at the start of the season.  The bad news is that even with the streak, the Good Guys are still 9.5 games behind Cleveland, which has officially changed its name from the lowly Indians to the surprising Indians.  In the words of Hawk Harrelson, "Don't stop now, boys!"

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