45

I tried to stay up. I really did. But when the White Sox and Indians went to the 11th inning and it was past midnight here in the Eastern time zone, I went to bed. I figured the Sox would lose because they’d already frittered away the lead multiple times, including a blown save by Sergio Santos in the 9th inning. But I figured wrong, as Juan Pierre came through with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 14th inning to give the Sox an 8-7 win over the Tribe.

The Sox banged out 22 hits, a total the team had reached 13 times before that since the 1919 season when Baseball-Reference.com’s stats start, and have exceeded 18 times, with the highest total being 29 hits in a 29-6 win over the Kansas City Athletics on April 23, 1955. In the prior 13 games with 22 hits, the Pale Hose had never scored fewer than 11 runs, so last night’s output of only eight runs set a new record for inefficiency.

Among the 22 hits, were five triples: two by Alejandro De Aza and one each by Tyler Flowers, Alexei Ramirez, and Alex Rios. That was the first time since 1986 that any team has had that many three-baggers in a game and the first time the database shows the Sox ever had exactly five – though two times in the 1920 season they had six, both wins.

Sox pitchers set a record for strikeouts, accumulating 19 Ks on the night. The previous high of 18 came in the 19-inning win over the Red Sox on July 9, 2006 that yours truly and son Jeff attended. Also in attendance at that game were Update subscribers Mike Sehr, Lisa Pildes, Judy Deutsch (and husband Tom), Howard Silverman (and son Bradley), which I know because at various points in the game, I sat with all of them.

The win moves the Sox over .500 for the first time since April 15. It keeps them 3.5 games behind the Tigers. And it moves them to within a half game of second-place Cleveland, whom they play again tonight. Go Sox!