This was a really fun ballgame to watch. Maybe the most enjoyable ballgame all season.
The Sox offense made Roy Halladay throw 31 pitches in the first inning, and although they didn't score any runs, as long as they stayed that course, something would happen. They were staying back on the ball, fouling away pitches, taking some close ones, and making Halladay work for his outs.
Sure enough, it happened, and the Sox overcame a 3-0 early deficit against a former Cy Young winner with good at-bats. A lot of it was due to having Jim Thome and Paul Konerko back in the lineup, together again. They reached base the first four times each, and keyed a patient offensive attack that didn't rely on the long ball.
Scott Podsednik got things started with a perfect drag bunt, and followed up by swiping second. That was the Pods that got earned him an All-Star spot. He scored two batters later on one of Jim Thome's two doubles. Pods would rope a two-out RBI double to make it a one-run game, picking up Rob Mackowiak, who blew a bunt attempt two batters earlier.
A.J. Pierzynski gave the team a lead when he hit a three-run, opposite-field homer -- and not a cheapie, either -- and Jon Garland wouldn't give it back. Glaus has killed the Sox this year -- he demolished Freddy Garcia earlier -- but Garland overcame his first gopher ball in seven starts to earn his eighth straight win. The Toronto third baseman would also go opposite-field off Bobby Jenks in the ninth, but Bobby struck out the side otherwise.
Fortunately, the Sox added an insurance run in the ninth to make that second homer negligible. Paul Konerko singled with two outs, a pinch-running Ross Gload stole second on the first pitch, and then he'd score on Jermaine Dye's single for a 6-3 lead.
Record: 64-43 |
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