2008 State of the Sox

August 25: White Sox 4, Orioles 3

Just enough offense.  Just enough defense.  Just enough pitching.  Just enough luck.

After losing a game from three months ago earlier in the day, it'll do nicely.

Clayton Richard won his second straight game, rebounding after squandering the lead in a rocky third inning and finishing six for the second straight outing, good for his second straight quality start.

His defense giveth extra outs in that third.  Ken Griffey Jr. made an overdramatic running catch for the first out with a runner on second, but "swampy conditions" in center rendered him unable to catch a flyball in front of him to put runners on the corners, and two more singles later, the Orioles had a 3-2 lead.

But Joe Crede, in his first game back with the club, brought his good glove with him.  He snagged a hot liner in the sixth, then charged a ball and made a nice cross-body throw for a fielder's choice in the eighth which prevented a runner from reaching scoring position.

Meanwhile, the offense mustered just enough in support of Richard to win the game -- though half the runs came via some big help by the Orioles, in alternating fashion:

Orioles run: Jermaine Dye should've grounded out to short to end the first, but Juan Castro booted it and Alexei Ramirez crossed the plate.

Sox run:  Griffey came through with a big two-out double off lefty Chris Waters for a 2-0 lead in the fourth.

Orioles run:  Carlos Quentin called for time, but stepped back in the box when he realized his request wasn't granted.  This threw Waters off, and he fell off the mound and allowed Alexei Ramirez to score once again.

Sox run:  Jim Thome blasted his 535th homer to center to give the Sox a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Octavio Dotel pitched well enough, and Matt Thornton cleaned up his small mess -- a leadoff single in the eighth.  Bobby Jenks shook off his struggles against Baltimore for his 26th save.

Record: 75-56 | Box score | Play-by-play