Bam!  .500 Again!

(August 4)

Short take:  Lowe falters, teammates pick'em up

Back to the future Sox Fans.  The 2001 Sox team did a remarkable impersonation of the 2000 edition, falling behind but coming back big to bludgeon the opposition to death.  An amazing six-run fourth inning brings our Sox all the way back for a 8-6 victory over Tampa Bay.

Sean Lowe started but got chased early.  A five-run third inning woke Jerry Manuel early from his slumber.  He looked to get shelled again in the fourth when Manuel came to get him, reliever Rocky Biddle pitching out a no-out/first-and-third situation unscathed.  If he had done that a few more times last month he would still be in the rotation.

Down 5-0, the Sox hitters went to work.  They needed just one break, a fielding error allowing Herbert Perry to reach base and score a run.  That brought up the bald-headed Aaron Rowand.  He is one of several sporting shaved heads to deal with the summer heat, and has made the most of his second chance with the big club this season.  He took the 2-2 pitch over the wall for a 3-run blast and suddenly the Sox were back in business.  Ray Durham put the team over the top with a two-run dinger and suddenly our 'Hose were up 6-5.

The 2001 team would stop right there.  We Sox Fans would be left to squirm in our seats afraid of what might come next.  Not tonight!  Paul Konerko picked up in the fifth where the nine Sox hitters in the fourth left off.  He punched a round-trip ticket, scoring Jose Canseco in the process.  He finished with three hits.  The Sox were remarkably efficient.  They scored eight runs on eight hits.  Seven walks and two homeruns will do that for you.

Meanwhile the Sox bullpen kept Tampa Bay under control.  Manuel employed a tag team of Biddle, Alan Embree, Gary Glover, and Keith Foulke to bring home a White Sox winner.

Back to .500, and we have two games left to play with the Devil Rays.  Where have these guys been?