The Wait For a Win is Over

There was a collective sigh of relief on the South Side of Chicago Thursday night as the White Sox snapped a 7 game skid, routing the Rays 9-2. The offense showed up in full force which is something that we have not seen in a week. The Sox did exactly what they were expected to do against Niemann (The Rays starting pitcher) who came into the game with an era up over 6.

Plenty of highlights to talk about in this one. Carlos Quentin rocketed a double into right center field, which was nice to see the Q using all fields, he picked up 2 RBIs on the day.

                                  
                                          Ball was Scolded.....

The captain was 3-5 with a few RBIs, Omar Vizquel had the first 2 RBIs of the game, one of which was a double off the right field wall (yet again proving age is just a number at 44 years old)  and Gavin Floyd showed great poise and damage control, pitching out of a few jams and holding the Rays to only 2 runs.

My player of the game, Juan Pierre. Proving that he is the battery to this offense (as I have been saying for weeks). Here was an offense that came into this game slumping big time, looking for any kind of a spark to get them going. Pierre didn't waste anytime supplying said spark. His first at bat (the first at bat of the game) He laid down a nice bunt towards the third base line, forcing Felipe Lopez ( Rays third basemen) to charge in and rush his throw, which he threw down the right field line, Pierre scurried all the way into third base, setting up Omar to do exactly what was needed by putting the ball in play on the ground, to the right side. 1-0 Sox. Pierre then got things started in the 3rd. With yet another bunt single. Setting up Omar for a double off the wall, scoring Pierre from first. As we say in baseball, "Hits are contagious;" as the White Sox took off from there, putting up 4 runs in the 3rd, 1 in the 5th, 2 in the 6th, and 1 in the 8th.

I want to take a minute to talk about something I have picked up on over the course of our very young season that has been extremely frustrating. The White Sox pitching staff and their approach with 2 outs. I don't remember the last time the Sox have given up so many 2 out runs. There have been numerous times this season that our pitching staff, wether it be the bullpen or the starters, have worked hard and retired the first 2 batters in an inning, just to come back and walk the next 2 and give up a double (or something along those lines). Everyone knows you have to work hard for all 3 outs, it has been evident to me that our guys have really been getting lax after they've recorded 2 outs. We have actually lost games because of the 2 out runs we've been giving up. There's no excuse for it, you work hard for all 3 outs and you won't have any problems. But the 2 out walks and the hit parades that have begun with 2 outs have been really grinding my gears. Just something to keep in mind and keep an eye out for next time you're watching the game. Don Cooper really needs to get that issue settled down, because those runs are not only damaging to the score, they're damaging to the teams morale, 2 out runs are just a heart smasher, especially when there's no one on base with 2 down and you give up 2 or 3 runs.

But not to rain on the White Sox first win in over a week. This was the team that I expected to see all year, solid pitching, great bullpen support, and relentless offense. Yesterday's game was the typical slump breaker. You could just see the confidence build in our offense, a little more each time they went around the lineup. Look for a hard fought series as we go into the toilet bowl of the midwest (Detroit) this Easter weekend. We have Verlander tonight, who we usually struggle against, hopefully our offense and its new found confidence can pull one out in the motor city.

Go Sox, God I hate Detroit....


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