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White Sox Thu Jun 17 2010
Sox Win Again -- Thank God for the N.L. Central
If ever you're rooting for a baseball team and you think they have hit rock bottom, hope they get to play a team or two from the National League Central Division -- otherwise known as the collection of teams where has-beens mingle with minor league players. The Chicago White Sox, a team struggling so hard in 2010 their general manager Kenny Williams has had his itchy trigger finger hovering above the FIRE SALE! button, just won their third series in a row. The confounding variable in the question of whether or not the Sox have begun to finally turn things around of course, is the fact that they have been playing some pretty substandard teams this past week.
Just a couple of days after the Sox had answered the question of who the worst team in town is (answer: The Cubs), they traveled to Pittsburgh to play a relaxing, breezy set against the Pirates. The Bucs are doing so poorly this season, all MLB memorabilia for this team should come with rebate program; the percentage of how much is refunded can be determined by how many losses they have. Anyone who spends money on anything Pirates related should get some incentive. Yesterday was the tenth game they have lost in a row and the team currently has three losing streaks this season in which they have lost five or more consecutive games. The Pirates are third in errors (53), have the second highest ERA (5.24) and are dead last in runs scored (210) and batting average (.236). In other words, they're not very good at playing baseball.
The Sox started last night a little too quietly in the first three innings against starting pitcher Zach Duke, whose ERA was just north of five before the game started. By the fourth inning though, the South Siders had him solved well. Juan Pierre singled and was followed by a triple from Alexei Ramirez scoring the first run of the night. He in turn was driven in by another single from the always able Alex Rios followed by a walk to Paul Konerko. The rally was going so well, not even Carlos Quentin wanted to ruin it, and the right fielder knocked in Rios giving the Sox a 3-0 lead.
The Sox offense continued to roll in the sixth as another rally resulted in Konerko and Quentin (twice in one night) adding to their RBI totals. A series of painfully bad errors by the Pirates allowed the Sox to put a couple more on in the ninth.The Pirates had six errors yesterday.
John Danks looked solid as he went eight strong innings with six strike outs and three walks. He only gave up a pair of runs, the second of which was a home run from left fielder Jose Tabata. It was his first home run in the majors. The Sox went on to win 7-2.
Ultimately, the Pirates looked pretty lost for the second game in a row against the Sox. Here's hoping they continue to flounder tonight. Too bad the Sox aren't in the N.L. Central.
