Sox hit back!

(September 20)  

Short take:  Championship pedigree shows

Kip Wells is probably pitching himself out of any plans the Sox have for using him in the rotation.  Yet another start comes derailed when Kipper starts thinking too much.  Hasn't this been the story since April last year?  Still the Sox show a bit of the championship pedigree, taking the best shot the Yankees can offer, then countering with a knockout punch of their own.  A White Sox Winner, 7-5 at Comiskey!

Wells struck out the first two batters he faced but then hit Bernie Williams in the head who had to leave the game.  The Yankees took exception, and Kip came unglued, allowing an rbi double to New York an early lead.  He wouldn't survive four innings, allowing four earned runs.  Typical.

Naturally the Yankees retaliated for their star getting hit by plunking Sox star Magglio Ordonez the next inning.  Thank goodness this wasn't dealt by Phil Garner and the punks from Detroit.  Nothing more came of the incident.  Nothing unless you count Magglio's trip to the plate in the fifth inning.  

With two-out and Ray Durham on second base waiting for somebody to deliver a key hit, Ordonez again faced Pettitte.  Magglio took a 2-2 pitch into the left field bullpen to tie the game 4-4.  Brand new ballgame, eh New York?

It stayed that way until the sixth inning.  Jose Canseco started things with a lead-off walk.  Carlos Lee delivered with a double putting runners at second and third with nobody out.  Herbert Perry struck out, and with first base open, Yankee manager Joe Torre chose to set up the double play by walking hot-hitting Royce Clayton and take his chances with #9 hitter Josh Paul.  Paul was already 0 for 2 with a throwing error.  A nice safe move.

Josh Paul made 'em pay.  Paul's liner bounced off the centerfielder's glove and rolled for a double, scoring both Canseco and Lee.  Ray Durham sacrificed home Clayton and the Sox had what would prove to be the winning margin.

Sean Lowe was effective through 1.2 innings, but was pulled for lefty Bob Pulsipher in the seventh.  Jerry Manuel managed to get the run tagged to Lowe with that move as Pulsipher allowed a stolen base and an rbi single.  Great thinking there, Jerry!

Next Manuel went to Keith Foulke who got the last five outs.  Thank God he didn't get any more bright ideas like giving Bob Howry another chance to blow a game.

Our heroes come through and avoid the sweep.  This time of year, we have to be thankful for whatever we can get, Sox Fans!  

Hey Sox Fans!

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"Through Hope and Despair -- A Fan's memories of the Chicago White Sox, 1967-1997"  

Here's a book written especially for Sox Fans!  Learn more here on Sunday.