2007 State of the Sox

April 13: White Sox 6, Indians 4

It's hard to remember a more agonizing, torturous victory that featured the Sox holding a multi-run lead for the bulk of the game.

Considering how poorly the top of the order performed -- Scott Podsednik, Darin Erstad, Jim Thome and Paul Konerko went 0-for-16 -- the Sox were lucky to get six runs.  Joe Crede had a three-hit night, Juan Uribe hit a big three-run homer and added a sac fly, and Jermaine Dye hit a homer for the second consecutive game, but the relief provided by each big hit was short-lived.  How did that happen?

1) The Indians' leadoff man reached in seven out of nine innings.
2) The Indians stranded thirteen runners.
3) The Indians battled Javier Vazquez and made him throw 112 pitches in 5 1/3 innings.
4) Several crucial at-bats were taken to full counts, namely:

• Vazquez's strikeout of Grady Sizemore in the second with runners on second and third (preceded by a strikeout of Kelly Shoppach).
  
• Vazquez's strikeout of Travis Hafner with runners on first and second in the fourth.
• David Aardsma's strikeout of Shoppach with runners on first and third in the seventh.

Vazquez actually pitched pretty well, but a couple of lucky bloop hits extended innings a couple dozen pitches.  More importantly, Sox pitchers held Hafner in check, even though they gave Pronk every opportunity to drive in runs.  After a sac fly in the first, Hafner struck out, grounded out and grounded into a double play to end innings, all with runners on base.

Bobby Jenks once again looked shaky after allowing the first two runners to reach in the ninth, but he induced two double play balls after Ozzie Guillen's pep talk.  Unfortunately, the Sox couldn't capitzalize on either one. 

Uribe's throw to Tadahito Iguchi almost pulled Iguchi off the bag, but he held onto the ball while hitting the ground to at least get the force.  Josh Barfield beat out the second grounder, but Jenks retired Casey Blake via the pop-out to A.J. Pierzynski to help the Sox get over .500 for the first time all year.

Record: 5-4 | Box score | Play-by-play