The Chicago White Sox gave hope to their fans, and to themselves, after capitalizing on a night when the Detroit Tigers gave ground in the American League central. Friday night, after hearing the roar of the crowd at U.S. Cellular Field, the White Sox knew the Tigers had lost. After picking up the victory, the White Sox sat just one game back of the Tigers.
Saturday provided a quick turnaround, as both teams had afternoon games. The hopes didn’t last long, especially considering starter Chris Sale didn’t have anywhere near his best stuff. Sale’s pitches kept piling up and with one out in the fourth inning, with 82 pitches, Sale would be done. It was hardly what the White Sox were hoping for, but trailing 4-0, it was all that the tiring Sale could produce.
The game didn’t get any better for the White Sox, as the Rays continued to add on runs at a rapid pace. With a 5-0 lead, the Rays would hit three unanswered homeruns, including Matt Joyce’s second in as many innings, a three run shot, making it 10-0.
The White Sox would make somewhat of a comeback in the eighth inning, as Orlando Hudson hit a grand slam, although the four runs would come far too late for the White Sox to find any momentum. It would be the only hit that would provide any runs for the White Sox,
It was a game that has become all too familiar with White Sox fans, the offense struggled every at bat, and the pitching labored through the first few innings before being turned over to the bullpen. By then it didn’t matter, as the offense seemingly used up everything it had before September.
The lights haven’t gone out on the 2012 White Sox playoff chances, but it is as dim as it could possibly be. You don’t have to be a mathematician to realize the White Sox will need to win out and hope for a little bit of luck in the Tigers losing at least two.
The finish wasn’t really a choke, but a failure for sure given what they have shown all season as far as how good they could be when playing even average. It was a crazy ending to the season last season in Major League Baseball, but given the way the White Sox have played this month, the magic will likely need to come elsewhere. Until then, the playoff races elsewhere are fascinating, and we as White Sox fans will likely need to rely on that. They’re not completely out of it just yet, but they need a miracle.
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