August 30: White Sox 10, Indians 6 (11 innings)
I thought this moment on the broadcast, captured while Brent Lillibridge trotted around the bases after his go-ahead solo shot with two outs in the 11th inning, summed up the events quite nicely:
You have two kinds of Cleveland fans in the picture. One is devastated, and who could blame her? The Indians climbed back from a 5-0 deficit by scoring three runs in the ninth off Bobby Jenks, only to see the elven Lillibridge knock one into the first row off Cleveland LOOGY Rafael Perez. Given the way the Sox have struggled both against Cleveland and in extras, this should have been Cleveland’s game.
In front of her, you have another kind of Indians fan. This guy, who was among only 10,663 in attendance, has probably had a lot of legroom while watching a last-place club do last-place things. He might have had this face during 90 percent of the game, and was probably wondering how Manny Acta’s guys would kill the enthusiasm.
Behind them, you have a White Sox fan, who probably should be happier to see his team take an 11th-inning lead, in one of the more improbable fashions these Sox can come up with. Not only did Lillibridge just give them the lead, but he did so after Scott Linebrink held the Tribe scoreless. In the 10th. With a 1-2-3 inning. This game should have been wrapped up an hour before, though. And a Lillibridge throwing error helped contribute to Jenks’ blown save, so he might feel that Lillibridge owed it to him. Considering it’s close to 11 p.m., he might also think about how he has to get up for work in six hours.
At least the Sox won this one. It should have been easier, considering they finally got to Mitch Talbot, who was 3-0 against the Sox this year. Considering Alex Rios went 5-for-6 with four RBI and three runs scored. Considering Mark Buehrle pitched a tough game and eked out a quality start. Travis Hafner beat him up good, but with the tying run on second and one out in the fifth, Buehrle found a way to record two strikeouts to preserve the Sox’ two-run lead.
In the end, a win’s a win, and the Sox are four back of the idle Twins. If it takes Linebrink retiring the final six hitters to get the job done, so be it.
Notes:
*Gordon Beckham left the game after taking a direct hit to his right hand, courtesy of a Frank Herrmann fastball. X-rays were negative. Maybe. Juan Pierre was also hit earlier in the game. Sox pitchers, of course, hit nobody.
*Lillibridge’s homer was also clutch in that it answered Jayson Nix’s two-run shot earlier in the game, making it a dead heat in the battle of the backups. Nix was tossed for arguing a third strike call against Chris Sale (who struck out the side).
*The Sox pounded out 21 hits and seven walks. Mark Kotsay had three hits, and Omar Vizquel, A.J. Pierzynski, Alexei Ramirez and Beckham had two apiece.
Record: 71-60 | Box score | Play-by-play
