posted on Monday, June 30, 2008 11:29 PM by Jim

June 30: White Sox 9, Indians 7

This game should've been a more satisfying victory, what with Nick Swisher hitting a grand slam -- again -- and homering from both sides of the plate -- again.  But Joe Crede and his 16th error would have none of that.

A big early cushion provided by a mighty three-run swat by The Gentleman Masher and a Swisher slam nearly went to waste courtesy of Joe Crede's 16th error of the season.  He airmailed a routine throw once again, and the Tribe used the extra outs to score a couple runs off Nick Masset and Matt Thornton which brought the tying run to the plate in the form of Casey Blake.  Blake, however, hit a floating liner to right to end the game.

It gave Gavin Floyd his ninth win of the year, one he earned by setting a career high with 10 strikeouts.  He gave up a quick run on a Jhonny Peralta double in the first inning, but after he got the lead, he didn't give much reason for worry.  In fact, Five-Hit Peralta was the only real thorn in his side.  He hit a solo homer off Floyd to make it an 8-2 game, then scored the third run of the game when he doubled and scored on Shin-Soo (Big League) Choo's RBI single.

The other run would be unearned, because Choo took off for second on a strikeout, and while Toby Hall did his job by throwing down to second, somebody didn't do their job on the receiving end.  The ball skipped into center field, and Choo would score on an infield single off a leaping Alexei Ramirez's mitt.

Ramirez had an uneven day.  He drew derisive laughter from Ryan Garko when he tried an ill-advised headfirst slide into first on a bunt.  He wasn't close to being safe, but he tried selling it to the umpire anyway. 

He made Ben Francisco the butt of a joke the next half-inning.  After singling to left, Francisco rounded first casually as Carlos Quentin's throw bounced back into the infield.  Ramirez saw him retreating a little too slowly and fired to Swisher before he could get back to the bag for a clever out.

Toby Hall gave him a run for his money in the laugh category.  Like Brian Anderson before him, Hall granted himself time while the umpire did not with two strikes, and he was unsuccessful on his running swinging attempt back in the box for strike three.

Later in the game with Tom Mastny on the mound, he called time while Mastny was about to deliver the pitch, but maintained perfect posture in the batter's box.  The ump gave it to him, and Mastny noticed at the last second.  His pitch dribbled toward the plate.

Record: 47-35 | Box score | Play-by-play

Comments

# re: June 30: White Sox 9, Indians 7

Tuesday, July 01, 2008 1:44 AM by Joist
I counted at least four instances in the game in which the ball bounced off a South Sider's glove (Quentin's dive, Swisher's dive, Alexei's leap, Crede's dive). I also counted quite a few excellent defensive plays by both teams (Alexei's peg, Choo's catch at the wall, Peralta's stab) and a number of terrible defensive plays (Choo overrunning Cabrera's double, Crede's airmail, Blake letting two "singles" go right under his mitt). What a dopey game. I'm just glad the Sox came out on top.

And yes, I jinxed Masset. You're welcome.