86

With a day game following a night game and travel from Denver to Chicago on tap, Ozzie tried to rest some of his starters, but it didn’t work. Despite starting the game on the bench, Brent Morel, A.J. Pierzynski, Carlos Quentin, and Paul Konerko each wound up pinch-hitting due to a close game. But the bigger plan worked out, as the White Sox came from behind to tie the Rockies and then win it in ten innings, 6-4.

Juan Pierre continued his hot streak – 7 for 14 in the series – driving in the tying run with a sacrifice fly and then the winning runs with a bases-loaded single off the wall in right. Pierre was 3 for 5 and even stole a base.

Other plus performances included Gordon Beckham’s 7th home run and Adam Dunn’s 0 for 3. Why is an 0 for 3 day a plus? Because he didn’t strike out for a change.

Jake Peavy started and gave up all four runs during his six-inning stint, but the bullpen shut down Colorado the remaining four innings. Jesse Crain got the win, improving to 4-2, and Sergio Santos picked up his 17th save.

The Sox didn’t lead the game until the tenth inning. They notched just their fourth win of the year – out of 36 games – when trailing after seven innings.

Let’s hope this creates some momentum – there’s no such thing in sports according to the book Scorecasting, which makes a persuasive case on this point (and many others) – since the Sox start play against the Cubs at Wrigley today. Go Sox!