Yes we realize magic numbers are reserved for teams in first place, but the White Sox were comfortably in first place when the countdown began. Deal with it.
With Gavin Floyd on the hill in a bleak situation, I was not anticipating having positive thoughts tonight. Six games to play and the Sox down two games, it looked like the Tigers had the champagne on ice much like the Sox did just a week ago. Two baseball games later and all of a sudden there is a chance again.
Floyd made everyone nervous early as Ben Zobrist tagged a solo shot in the first inning. The Devil Rays put two men on in three consecutive innings after the first, but Floyd managed to dance out of trouble. The right hander gave up only one run in five innings despite walking five.
Kevin Youkilis put the White Sox on the board with a single to drive in Gordon Beckham. Can you believe it? A single to drive in a runner from second. No home run required. Alex Rios decided to play the long ball in the fourth to give the Sox a one run advantage.
That is all the Sox would need as Jesse Crain came in and dominated for two innings plus. Nate Jones, Donnie Veal and Addison Reed would do the rest and for the first time in what seemed like ages, the Sox had a relatively stress free winner.
The Tigers decided to make things interesting again dropping the first game of a three game set in Minnesota. Apparently Ryan Doumit is a closet White Sox fan as he hit a two run homer in the 7th and then broke a 2-2 tie with two run double in the 8th.
With the win and the Detroit loss, the Sox are now one game back with five to play. Anything short of a 4-1 finish is relying on the Tigers faltering, but when we were all saying our final goodbyes just 24 hours ago, Sox fans will all take it. It is still going to take help from the Twins and or Royals, but the Sox have moved from life support to critical condition.
In a season of twists and turns, the Sox were on the right end of this one. Floyd shocked everyone giving up only one run and the Tigers laid an egg against the Twins’ Scott Diamond. Declaration of time of death was premature, the Sox still have a pulse. Perhaps the fans of Chicago will regain one themselves for the final two home games this weekend.
The Sox will send Cy Young contender Chris Sale to the hill Saturday against fellow stud lefty Matt Moore. Moore has lost four in a row and has not made it past the fourth inning in three straight starts. With David Price looming on Sunday, tomorrow is a must win game.
The Tigers look to their ace Justin Verlander in his biggest start of the season. He will square off with some clown named P.J Walters.
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