2007 State of the Sox

April 22: Tigers 6, White Sox 5 (11 innings)

Without a doubt, the root cause of this disappointing defeat is simply a hanging David Aardsma slider.

However, if you're looking for a deeper explanation of why the Sox blew a two-run lead with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Ozzie Guillen's recent bullpen usage might be the direction in which you can point your finger.

Because Bobby Jenks had already been used in the first two games of this series, Ozzie called upon Aardsma to close out the game.  However, Aardsma had also pitched in the first two games this series.  The decision looked like it didn't matter when Aardsma retired the first two guys he faced, but after a Carlos Guillen single, Marcus Thames hit a belt high, inside-half slider over the left-center fest to create a whole new ballgame.

It spoiled a nice effort by Jon Garland, who made the bullpen a nonfactor by pitching eight strong innings, and overcoming what could be one of the weakest three-run outbursts imaginable.  Garland made good pitches in the first inning, and all he had to show for it as a looped double, a nubbed RBI single, a groundball single where Juan Uribe should've been playing in double-play depth, an inside-out single leading to an early three-run deficit.

Garland kept making quality pitches, and eventually was rewarded.  Those three runs would be the only ones he'd allow all day, and at one point he retired 18 consecutive hitters, using mainly that two-seam fastball that had a lot of life on it today.

Unfortunately, he wouldn't get the win.  Nick Masset would instead be tagged with the loss.  In his third inning of work, he walked Ivan Rodriguez to start the 12th, and after a sacrifice bunt, Boone Logan came in, intentionally unintentionally walked Craig Monroe, and Placido Polanco ended it with a single into the left field corner.

Until Thames' homer, it looked like the Sox would earn the win in the same manner as yesterday's victory, slowly chipping away against Justin Verlander.  A.J. Pierzynski hit a solo homer to put the Sox on the board, and the Sox would tie it up on two balls that never left the infield -- a Darin Erstad infield single, and Pablo Ozuna's fielder's choice.  Joe Crede gave the Sox their first lead with a two-run homer off Aquelino Lopez, his first of the season.

Paul Konerko has the inside position on the worst game of the season, going 0-for-6 with three strikeouts and eight left on base.  Opposing pitchers keep walking Jim Thome (three more BBs today) to get to Konerko, and they're not paying for it.

Record: 9-8 | Box score | Play-by-play