2006 State of the Sox

September 23: White Sox 11, Mariners 7

Some bullet points on a Sox victory that snapped a three-game losing streak:

• Jim Thome returned to his early-season catalyst form.  He hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Felix Hernandez (more first-inning RBI by Thome), and then walked in the eighth inning to set up Paul Konerko's go-ahead homer.
• Ryan Sweeney recorded his first true RBI with a two-run single for insurance runs in that eighth inning.  His only other RBI came on a groundout.
• Brian Anderson struck out three times in three at-bats.  He has five in his last two games.  This was off Felix Hernandez, who served up Anderson's first two home runs last year.
• Ross Gload led off.  Although he didn't do anything of note, it was a good idea.  Too bad nobody thought of it earlier.
• Mark Buehrle had another miserable outing -- 4 2/3 innings, nine hits, seven earned runs.
• Charlie Haeger did not -- 3 1/3 inning of perfect relief, five strikeouts. 
  
• The Sox and Mariners reversed bullpen roles today, with the Mariners allowing nine runs, while Haeger and Bobby Jenks combined for 4 1/3 innings of one-hit relief.

Record: 86-69 | Box score | Play-by-play