State of the Sox 2009

September 27: White Sox 8, Tigers 4

Note: K8T wrote this recap:

It took six innings, but the Sox finally showed up. A three-run sixth inning and a four-run eighth inning solidified a solid offensive showing including Carlos Quentin’s 3-run dinger, and gave Daniel Hudson his first big-league win.

Hudson gave up a home run to Curtis Granderson on the second pitch of the game and didn’t give up another run until the top of the sixth when he walked three batters. Give the assist to the White Sox offense though, as the bats were hot today.

In addition to the his home run, Quentin also had a double. Scott Podsednik had an RBI triple (yes, a triple) and a run scored. Gordon Beckham had an RBI double and single with two runs scored. Mark Kotsay and Alex Rios both had hits and runs scored, while Alexei Ramirez had a hit and two runs scored.

Jermaine Dye did have an RBI single, and received the standing ovation that so many fans had hoped for.

Also, give an assist to the Sox defense. Podsednik made a diving catch in center field, and Aubrey Huff was so far off second that Podsednik could get up, start running to second and throw off the wrong foot in time for the double play.

Later in the game, Alex Rios ran down a liner in the right field that could’ve easily been a JD triple.

All in all, it was a very fitting ending for the home season, even if it meant nothing in the end.

Record: 75-81 | Box score | Play-by-play

September 23: Twins 8, White Sox 6

Good news:

1. Jermaine Dye hit a pair of homers, his first in September, and his first multi-homer game since August of 2008.

2. Tyler Flowers ripped a double off the right field wall, his first major-league extra-base hit. He then scored.

Bad news:

1. Bill Welke might’ve made the worst strike call of the season, on a Joe Nathan curve ball that was caught in the opposing batter’s box. It turned a 2-1 count into a 1-2 count on A.J. Pierzynski in the ninth inning, and he struck out on a high fastball. After which, he tried to get ejected. Didn’t work.

2. Mark Buehrle’s back to being a first-half pitcher.

3. The Sox committed three errors.

4. With the bases loaded and a 3-2 count and the Twins clinging to a one-run lead, Nick Punto hit a line to center that Alex Rios pulled up on. It would’ve been an incredible catch had he left his feet, simply amazing — but he didn’t even give it a chance. The final margin? Two runs.

Record: 73-80 | Box score | Play-by-play

September 19: White Sox 13, Royals 3

In the bottom of the sixth, Gordon Beckham watched a pitch out of the zone as Jayson Nix tried to steal second.

John Buck rose and fired to second in time to get Nix. On his follow-through, he got Beckham as well.

Buck’s fist came through and punched Beckham right in the nuts, causing Beckham to double over and fall on his ass. A.J. Pierzynski, who knows what it’s like to take a shot to the nuggets, rubbed Beckham’s back with a smirk as Hawk Harrelson and Steve Stone failed to contain their laughter.

If this happened a day earlier, a shot to the groin would’ve been a fitting tribute to this September nosedive. Tonight, it was merely a comedic break during a game full of feel-good moments.

Jake Peavy picked up the win in his White Sox debut. He was touched up for three runs over his five innings, including a rough stretch in the second including a couple singles, a walk and a squeeze bunt. He also gave up an opposite-field homer to Billy Butler in the fourth.

Yet it was more good than bad for Peavy, who showed a fastball between 91 and 93 m.p.h. with good movement and a slider with nice late-breaking action. The combo was good enough for five strikeouts, and two of his five innings were of the 1-2-3 variety.

He also showed that he knows how to win — something John Danks has yet to figure out.

Peavy’s night came to a close with the game tied at 3. The Sox, though facing a rookie lefty, had gotten to Dusty Hughes for runs in three of his four innings when he came out for the fifth. He only lasted one out, leaving with discomfort in his elbow a couple of pitches into Paul Konerko’s at-bat.

Yasuhiko Yabuta relieved Hughes and had nothing. He finished Konerko’s walk, gave up a single to Alexei Ramirez, then walked Jermaine Dye to load the bases. He also fell behind Carlos Quentin 3-0, and he threw one get-me-over fastball too many. Quentin turned on it and sent it into the seats for the game-breaking grand slam.

It was all gravy after that. Randy Williams, D.J. Carrasco and Scott Linebrink combined to throw four shutout innings while the offense piled on, batting around with six more runs in the sixth.

Tyler Flowers recorded his first major-league hit that inning, with a single through the left side off Victor Marte. He came around to score his first major-league run on a bases-loaded single by Paul Konerko.

Everybody but Beckham, who merely singled, reached base twice. Alex Rios had two hits and his first RBI since Aug. 28. Konerko hit his 27th homer, Jermaine Dye singled twice and walked twice, and Alexei Ramirez hit a two-run ground rule double, his 13th two-bagger of the year.

Record: 73-76 | Box score | Play-by-play