2008 State of the Sox

April 26: Orioles 5, White Sox 1 (Game 1)

The White Sox shouldn't have been able to bring the tying run to the plate when they finally got to the Orioles bullpen, but it happened.  It started, as most rallies do, with a Toby Hall singled.  He was erased after a one-out fielder's choice, but Jim Thome walked and Paul Konerko singled to load the bases.

After a bases-loaded HBP by Carlos Quentin (his second of the season), Joe Crede came to the plate.  He couldn't pull off the heroics two games in a row, as he flew out to right to end the game.

Of course, fate was way too kind by even allowing them a run across the plate for two reasons:

No. 1:  The Sox couldn't do anything against Brian Burres.  You know the deal -- a lefty who stays away from the plate, using a changeup to keep hitters off balance.  Hall was the only Sox player with two hits, and Cabrera was the first runner to reach scoring position in the ninth.  Only when (hey hey hey, it's) Matt Albers entered the game could the Sox finally get their offense going.

No. 2:  The Sox didn't support John Danks with the defense or the bullpen, either.  Adam Jones broke up Danks' perfect game bid in the fifth, then stole second on Hall, who is a catcher without an arm.  Guillermo Quiroz's first career homer later, the Orioles had all the runs they needed.

Octavio Dotel picked up Matt Thornton by erasing his inherited runner, but collapsed in his second inning of work.  Aubrey Huff led off with a single, and after Jay Payton's sacrifice bunt, a shanked ball ate up Paul Konerko, and the error allowed a run to cross the plate.  Konerko then let a pickoff throw by Dotel handcuff him, which took off the force.  A walk and a wild pitch later, the O's had runners on second a third.

Dotel struck out Luke Scott, but Brian Roberts hit a line drive right into the massive gap in right-center.  Had Alexei Ramirez been playing at regular alignment and depth, it would've been easy.  Instead, the ball glanced off the end of his mitt after a long run and a dive, and that would seal the deal.

Record: 12-10 | Box score | Play-by-play