Today at 1:10pm EDT the Chicago White Sox (28-22) will look to keep the hot streak they are on going.  They have won 7 in a row and 11 out of their last 12.  That winning streak has helped them jump into first place in the AL Central by a 1/2 game over the Cleveland Indians.

The young 23-year-old Jose Quintana (1-0, 1.54 ERA) will take the mound against 24-year-old Alex Cobb (2-0, 2.25 ERA) and the Tampa Bay Rays (29-21).  These youngsters are wanting to show their general managers, managers, teammates, and fans that they can make a difference by being in the rotation this season.

Quintana picked up his first major league win last Friday in a win against Cleveland in his first and only start thus far.  He threw six solid innings allowing just two runs on four hits, walking three and striking out four.  In his other appearance this season, also against the Tribe, he has allowed just no runs on one hit, while walking two and striking out three coming out of the pen and throwing 5 2/3 innings on May 7th.  Quintana has been given a shot in the starting rotation due to an injury to John Danks who is on the 15-day DL.

Alex Cobb is starting in place of the injured Jeff Niemann.  Niemann was placed on the 60-day DL after fracturing his leg on May 14th.  In Cobb’s two starts this season he has allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits, walking six and striking out nine in 12 innings of work.  He started 11 games last season and went 5-2 with a 3.20 ERA.

So what “rookie” will have a bad start?  Can both of them keep it going for two teams that are near the top of their respective divisions and were not expected to be there?  We shall see…

LET’S GO WHITE SOX!!!

This team continues to impress me.

(Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

The Chicago White Sox are in sole possession of first place in the AL Central at 28-22.  They are a ½ game ahead of the Cleveland Indians as of tonight.  They have now won 11 out of their last 12 games and are on a roll.  Thanks to some good pitching tonight and some key hitting the team is way above most fans expectations at this point.

Yes it is only May 29, 2012.  It’s early.  But this is the first time they have held sole possession of first since they were 5-2 on April 14^th when they lead Detroit by a ½ game.  And it’s also the latest in a season they have held the division lead since August 8^th, 2010.

They have now won 7 straight games, which is their longest winning streak since August 30^th-September 6^th, 2010.  They also have had a homerun in 15 straight games which is the longest streak since 2004. The guys are doing well and frankly they are just fun to watch.  If I lived in Chicago I would try to go to more games.  Sure they will falter at some point.  However through the first 50 games of the season they have put themselves in good position to compete in this division.

(Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

It was a big 6^th inning that led to a win tonight over the Rays by a final of 7-2.  In the inning the Adam Dunn led it off with a walk.  After Paul Konerko struck out, the White Sox then had five straight hits in the inning.  Rios singled then A.J. Pierzynski followed with a single of his own to tie the game at 2-2.  After a wild pitch moved the runners over, Dayan Viciedo came through with an RBI single of his own with the runners moved in to try to prevent the run.  Alexei Ramirez would then double to center on the next at bat pushing the White Sox lead to 4-2.  Orlando Hudson would then continue the hitting frenzy with an RBI single to right to put the Sox up by three.  Alejandro De Aza would finally see the hitting streak come to an end when he hit a ground ball to 2^nd, but with his speed he was able to beat out the attempt of the double play to allow Ramirez to score from third to give the White Sox a 6-2 lead.  Gordon Beckham would ground out to end the inning but the damage was done.

(Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

That big inning allowed Philip Humber to collect his first win since April 21^st.  He allowed just two runs on 5 hits, walking one and striking out five through seven solid innings.  Humber’s only mistake in the game was when he allowed a 2-run homer to newly acquired Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Hideki Matsui in the 4^th.  That put the Rays ahead 2-0, but the White Sox would fight right back.

(US Presswire)

In the top of the 5^th Dayan Viciedo would single to center to begin the inning.  He would then advance to 3^rd on a bad throw by Tampa Bay starter James Shields.  Alexei Ramirez would then drive in Viciedo with a single to center to cut the lead to 2-1, then came the big 6^th inning.  Dayan Viciedo would collect his third hit of the game when he would blast a ball to deep center for his 11^th homerun of the season and the White Sox 15^th straight game with a homerun.  “The Tank” now has a batting average of .28o and is helping the Sox to a .307 batting average with runners in scoring position with runners in scoring position in the month of May.

(Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Matt Thorton and Hector Santiago would each pitch a scoreless inning of work and kill any hopes of a Rays rally.  It was a great game all around.  Outside of the fact that Paul Konerko’s 14-game hit streak came to an end the game was fantastic.  It was good to see the rest of the guys step up without Dunn and Konerko getting a hit.  All is good on the South Side.

LET’S GO WHITE SOX!!!

It has been over a month since Philip Humber (1-2, 5.80 ERA) won a game.  Since his perfect game on April 21st, Humber has yet to win.  Since that day he is 0-2 with a 8.21 ERA in six starts.  In that stretch he has allowed 36 hits, 28 runs and walked 19 in just 30 2/3 innings of work.

(Chris O’ Meara/Associated Press)

Humber will be opposed by James Shields (6-2, 3.63 ERA) who is having a great year.  Shields will have to face a tough White Sox lineup who has won 10 out of its last 11 games.  Paul Konerko has a 14-game hitting streak going and is hitting .395 on the season.  A.J. Pierzynski (.306), Dayan Viciedo (.400 in his last 6 games) , Adam Dunn (16 homers), Alejandro De Aza (.286), and Alex Rios (.274) have had great seasons.  Gordon Beckham has raised his average almost 20 points in the last 6 games or so.

Outside of Humber’s recent struggles and John Danks terrible season the pitching staff has been pretty good.  The bullpen and defense have been lights out.  This team is solid and is starting to look like a contender to win the division.  The Detroit Tigers (23-25) are clearly struggling and may not have been good as we thought.  The Cleveland Indians (27-21) have done well, but the White Sox have had their number this season.  The hitting of the White Sox is clearly better than the Indians in my opinion even with the Indians having a healthy lineup.  But I will say, injuries have clearly affected the Tribe’s lineup.

This team will try to keep it going tonight at 7:10 EDT as they are almost 1/3 of the way through the season and in good shape.  LET’S GO WHITE SOX!!!

15 strikeouts in a game.

(Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Yesterday on Memorial Day, Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox threw one of the better performances I have seen by a White Sox pitcher.  Outside of a perfect game or a no-hitter, this was one of the better individual pitching performances someone can throw.  Sale was dominant.  The 15 K’s he had were the 2nd most in White Sox history.  The team record is held by Jack Harshman who had 16 strikeouts on July 25th, 1954.  Four other times a White Sox pitcher has had 15 strikeouts in a game:  Eddie Cicotte (1914), Jim Scott (1913), Ed Walsh (1910 and 1908).  I remember Javier Vazquez getting to double digits a few times, but nothing like this.

(Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Sale helped the White Sox defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 as he allowed just one run in 7 1/3 innings pitched on 115 pitches.  If he would have stayed in and struck out the final 5 batters he would have tied the record of 20 strikeouts by Kerry Wood (1998) and Roger Clemens (1986 and 1996).  But clearly the pitch count came into that decision to take him off the mound with one out in the 8th.  Sale broke his personal best of 11 strikeouts.

(Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Matt Moore of the Tampa Bay Rays did well too, striking out 10 White Sox players in this game.  The Rays did have a 1-0 lead in this game thanks to an RBI single by Jose Lobaton.  Ben Zobrist singled, stole 2nd base and then scored on the single to left by Lobaton.  But that was pretty much all that the Rays would get out of Sale.  He only allowed three hits in the game, the other than the two in the 4th was a single by Ben Zobrist in the 2nd.  He also walked two batters, one in the 5th and one in the 7th.

(Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Matt Moore had the lead until the until the top of the 6th.  With one out in the inning Gordon Beckham singled to left then Adam Dunn hit one of the furthest homers I have seen.  His 16th homer on the season was a fly ball to right field that hit the back wall at Tropicana Field to give the White Sox the 2-1 lead.  Moore’s final line was allowing just two runs on four hits, walking one batter, hitting one batter and striking out 10 through seven innings of work.  The only other hits the White Sox had were a single by Alejandro De Aza in the 3rd, and a single by Dayan Viciedo in the 5th.

(Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

The combined 25 strikeouts by Sale and Moore were the most since September 20th, 2009 when Florida’s Ricky Nolasco and Atlanta’s Javier Vazquez combined for 25 strikeouts.  It’s the most in the AL since May 6th, 2000 when Boston’s Pedro Martinez and Tampa’s Steve Trachsel combined for 28 total at Fenway Park.  Sale is the youngest pitcher to have this many strikeouts since Mark Prior had 16 in 2003.  Sale, Wood, Prior all in the same conversation?  A young arm in Chicago…I hope there is no injury on the way.

(Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

In the 9th inning in his last at-bat Paul Konerko did get a base hit on a single to right field to extend his hitting streak to 14 games.  The win puts the White Sox 5 games above .500 at 27-22. The White Sox have won six straight games and they have won 10 out of their last 11 games.  It is a good time to be a White Sox fan.  LET’S GO WHITE SOX!!!

Today the Chicago White Sox (26-22) will travel to Tampa to take on the Rays (29-19).  Both teams have been good at times this season and will look to stay in contention for the remainder of it.  Chris Sale (5-2, 2.50 ERA) will take on Matt Moore (1-4, 5.07 ERA) at 3:10pm EDT.  Sale has been solid as Moore has struggled, yet there is no doubt that both these young pitchers clearly have talent.

If Moore is going to do well he may have to avoid Paul Konerko all together.  This season he is hitting .399 with 11 homers and 33 RBI.  He leads all of baseball in batting average,  is tied for 11th in homers, tied for 12th in RBI, is 3rd in hits, 2nd in OBP with at least 100 at-bats, 3rd in slugging with at least 100 at bats, 3rd in OPS with at least 100 at-bats, and 16th in runs scored.

Sale is still working on his craft as a starting pitcher, but is off to a good start.  If the offense can give him the run support he should be fine.  If the White Sox hit like they have over the last 9 games they should be in line for another win and possibly get into 1st place in the AL Central depending on what Cleveland does against Kansas City this afternoon.

The caps seen this afternoon will not be the standard red, white and blue logos, but instead will be camouflage.

LET’S GO WHITE SOX!!!

     

I went to Chicago this weekend and it could not have been better.  Great weather, great food and drinks, and a White Sox sweep of the Cleveland Indians!  Let’s talk about the sweep.    Coming into the weekend, the Chicago White Sox (26-22) were 3 1/2 games back of the division leading Cleveland Indians (26-21).  Now, they are just a 1/2 game back of the Tribe and are clearly on a roll.

The White Sox have won 9 out of their last 10 games and in that stretch they have score 6 or more runs in all but 2 of those games.  The offense is clicking and the pitching has been doing well enough in most games to get the win.  During those nine wins the White Sox have outscored their opponents by a score of 74-31.  Against Cleveland this weekend, Chicago won game one by a final of 9-3, 14-7 in game two and 12-6 in game three.  It was a killing.  Yes, the Indians had players missing such as Carlos Santana, Travis Hafner, and Asdrubal Cabrerra for most of the series, but they certainly had some chances to score in all three games.  Plus it was the pitching that really let them down more than anything.

(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

In the first game of the series Chicago White Sox rookie starter Jose Quintana was very solid filling in for an injured John Danks who was placed on the 15-day DL earlier in the day.  Quintana allowed just two runs on four hits, walking three and striking out four through six innings.  It was Quintana’s first major League win.  Cleveland scored single runs off him in the 1st and 3rd innings, but was able to escape trouble in the 5th and threw a solid 6th before exiting the game with a 3-2 lead.

(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The White Sox took the lead off Cleveland starter Jeanmar Gomez thanks to a 2-run homer by Adam Dunn in the bottom of the 1st inning.  It was Dunn’s 15th homer of the season as he continues to hit so much better than last season.  A.J. Pierzynski then added a solo shot in the bottom of the 3rd as he continues to be one of the better hitting catchers in the AL this season.  Then the Sox broke the game open in the bottom of the 6th in a close game.

(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

With two outs in the inning, A.J. Pierzynski drew a walk, as did Dayan Viciedo.  Then Alexei Ramirez singled to left field to score Pierzynski and give the Sox a 4-2 lead.  There was no hesitation by 3rd base coach Joe McEwing to send Pierzynski running on a guy like Johnny Damon who has a weak arm in left field.  Gomez would exit the game there and be replaced by Jairo Asencio.  He would then walk Orlando Hudson to load the bases for Alejandro De Aza.  De Aza would rip a single to right field that would score two runs and give the Sox a 6-2 lead before the inning would finally come to a close.  Gomez final line would be allowing six runs on six hits walking four and striking out three through 5 2/3 innings.

(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The White Sox would do more damage in the bottom of the 7th following a 1-2-3 inning by Hector Santiago on the mound.  After two quick outs, the White Sox would again do more damage with two outs against Asencio.  After a single by Alex Rios, Asencio would throw a wild pitch to allow Rios to go into 2nd.  Pierzynski would then hit a ball that was dropping quickly in center field.  Center fielder Aaron Cunningham would make a poor effort in diving for the ball that would get by him and go all the way to the wall for an RBI triple.

(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Dayan Viciedo would then walk to the plate and on the first pitch he would see he would drive a ball that hung right over the center of the plate into the seats in right-center for his 9th homer of the season to give the White Sox a 9-2 lead.  Santiago would stay in to pitch the 8th and allow just one hit.  He would be replaced by Zach Stewart in the 9th who did allow a solo homer to Shelly Duncan in the inning, but Stewart would shut the door after that to not allow the Tribe to have a miracle rally.

It was a great day in Chicago for me as my friend Adam (an Indians fan) and I had some Giordano’s pizza and then watched the game from our hotel room as the night came to a close.  The drive was long and exhausting, but the end of the day was well worth it as the pizza was AMAZING and the game put me in a great mood as we drifted off to sleep.

 

The next day Adam and I went Bacardi at the Park and had some beer and food before the game.  I had some grilled corn on the cobb with some BBQ spices on it along with a fat tire.  It may have been one of the best things I ever had in my life.

Then came the game.  Wearing my newly purchased A.J. Pierzynski jersey that I bought that morning at the White Sox team shop I was excited for my first trip to U.S Cellular Field.  Adam and I met some cool people waiting to get into the stadium.  It was an older couple probably in their late 50′s early 60′s.  They both grew up in Chicago.  He told the story of how he took her to her first game and knew she was meant for him.  He told a story of how they went to another game later in life and he went to get them some beers.  He purchased two and when he got back to the seat he was surprised to see that she was turning down the beer.  He thought is she sick?  She hasn’t turned down a beer at a ballgame since we have been attending games.  That is when she told him she was avoiding drinking because she was pregnant!  What a cool story.  We told them this was our first time attending a game at U.S. Cellular and then we parted ways as they told us to enjoy the game.  Turns out they were sitting two rows back to our right in the same section of the stadium.  What a small world.

Jake Peavy came to the mound to throw the first pitch.  This is my view from section 161, row 11, seats 3.  Then my camera began to die…ugh.  I forgot to charge the battery before we left for the day.

(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

I expected the game to be a pitcher’s duel.  Jake Peavy and Derek Lowe were on the mound both leading their teams in wins, ERA, and WHIP coming into the game.  But it was not that at all.  Peavy didn’t have his good stuff at all.  Neither did Lowe.  In the game, Peavy would allow seven runs in the game on six hits with one walk and nine strikeouts battling his way through 7 1/3 innings.  Lowe would fare much worse.  He would last only 2 1/3 innings giving up eight runs on 10 hits, walking none and striking out three.

(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

In the first inning the White Sox would score four runs on five hits to take a 4-0 lead.  However the greatest play was made by center fielder Michael Brantley.  With the score 1-0 White Sox thanks to an RBI single by Paul Konerko, Alex Rios came to the plate.  Lowe retired De Aza on strikes to begin the game, but then gave up three straight singles.  Rios then crushed a ball to dead center field that we had a great view of yet I still thought it was gone as did MANY fans.  Some around us started cheering, until we realized what Brantley had done.  It was an incredible catch.  By far the best one I have ever seen live at a ballgame!  The cheers turned to moans and groans and then to chatter about the catch.  What a play.  Michael Brantley sir, I tip my cap to you.

(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The groaning though would turn to cheers once again though as A.J. Pierzynski would rip a ball right down the right field line that would score a run as he would go to 2nd on the double.  Dayan Viciedo would then have a 2-run single that would give the White Sox a 4-0 lead.  But the lead would not hold as I thought it would.  Peavy would give up five runs in the 3rd inning.  It began with a 3-run double by Michael Brantley when the bases were loaded with one out.  Then the big blast came off the bat of Jason Kipnis who had a 2-run homer in the inning to give the Indians the 5-4 lead.  I was now very quiet.

(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Yet because the offense would continue in the bottom of the 3rd for the White Sox I would get loud again.  Adam Dunn would lead off the inning with a ground-rule double that would be hit so hard it would bounce off of first baseman Casey Kotchman and fly into the stands.  That would be followed by an RBI ground-rule double by Paul Konerko douwn the right field line.  Konerko continues to tourch all major league pitchers as his hit tied the game at 5-5.  Alex Rois would then single to score Konerko and put the White Sox back ahead 6-5.  Later in the inning with two outs, Dayan Viciedo would continue his hot streak as well as he would hit his 10th homerun on the year to give the Sox a 8-5 lead.  The bullpen was furiously warming up for the Indians now and after a single by Alexei Ramirez, Lowe would finally exit the game.

(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

It was Jason Kipnis who would hit his 2nd homer of the game to cut the lead to 8-7 in the 5th.  What an odd game that I could not have predicted.  Matt Thorton would finally relieve Peavy in the 7th with the one run lead.  The White Sox offense would score more runs off of the Cleveland bullpen in the 7th to secure Peavy getting a win despite a poor performance.  In the inning, Alex Rios would collect an RBI on a double in the inning as would Dayan Viciedo who had an RBI single.  Alejandro De Aza would hit a ball  with the bases loaded that should have been a double play to end the inning, but the throw was wild to first base and it allowed two runs to score and give the White Sox a 12-7 lead.

(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

In the 8th the White Sox would score more runs thanks to a homerun by Alex Rios.  The two run blast sailed right over Adam and my head about six rows directly behind us.  I thought for a moment the ball was coming right at me as I reached for my glove.  If you look on the replay on mlb.com you can see Adam and I at the 10 and 11 second mark if you pause the video at that point you can see me in my black white Sox hat and white jersey and Adam standing next to me in an Indians cap and t-shirt.  We are located in about the center of the video, about six rows in front and below the guy in the bright yellow t-shirt who caught the ball.  There is a guy with his back turned and hands raised right in front of us wearing his Sox jersey at the 11 second mark.

Alex Rois 2-run shot

After the game, Adam was nice enough to smile and take a picture.  Even though I am sure he wanted to flip me off.   Later that night we would go to a bar called Stocks and Blondes.  It was a little hole in the wall that I would recommend going to in the middle of downtown.  We would travel back to Columbus the next morning and listen to the game on the radio on the 6-hour drive.  thir

(David Banks/Getty Images)

The third game would once again go the White Sox way thanks to Paul Konerko and company.  The White Sox would load the bases for Konerko in the 1st inning and would collect an RBI on a force out at 2nd base that landed just over the glove of Kipnis at 2nd base.  Alex Rios would single to right to bring home two more runs and give the White Sox a 2-0 lead.  Later in the inning Alexei Ramirez would drive in another run off Ubaldo Jimenez who clearly had no control once again.

(David Banks/Getty Images)

Neither did Gavin Floyd.  Johnny Damon would hit his first homer in a Cleveland uniform off of Floyd in the top of the 2nd inning.  Both teams would get another run in the following innings as Alexei Ramirez would get and RBI single in the 3rd and then Michael Brantley would tie the game at 4-4 in the 4th.  On the day Floyd would allow five runs on 10 hits, walking none and striking out four.  He would get the win however thanks to Paul Konerko.

(David Banks/Getty Images)

I could sense it coming listening to the radio.  With two outs in the inning Gordon Beckham was down 0-2 in the count.  He would then battle back, reach out and send a pitcher’s pitch out into right field for a single.  Jimenez would then walk Adam Dunn on just four pitches for his 4th walk of the game thus far.  That would bring Konerko to the plate.  He would send the ball deep into left field on Jimenez 93rd pitch of the game thus far.  The home-run not only gave the White Sox a 7-4 lead, but it was Konerko’s 400th homer in a White Sox uniform and the 407th in his career.  Konerko went 2-for-4 on the day pushing his batting average to .399 on the season which leads the majors.  He has a 13-game hitting streak and in that span he his 23-for-36 with a .565 average with 5 homers and 14 RBI.

(David Banks/Getty Images)

The Sox offense would continue rolling even after Jimenez would leave the game in the 5th as Orlando Hudson would get a 2-run triple in the inning and score on a triple by Alejandro De Aza.  De Aza was out at home however trying for the inside-the-park homer after the throw got away from the 3rd baseman.  Dayan Viciedo would have a 2-run single in the 8th that would put the Sox ahead 12-5.  Will Ohman, Nate Jones and Hector Santiago would not allow the game to get out of control and would help the Sox win the game 12-6.  It was huge momentum building home stand as the White Sox travel to Tampa Bay (29-19) who is playing well at home where they are 17-7.  Hopefully the Sox can take the hot bats to Tampa.  LET’S GO WHITE SOX!!!

Well, I am headed to Chicago.

This trip has been planned since before the season began.  I purchased the tickets sometime back in March for the game on Saturday May 26th against the rival Cleveland Indians.  Not in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be going to see a battle between the top two teams in the AL Central.  The Cleveland Indians are 26-18 and hold a 3 1/2 game lead over the 2nd place Chicago White Sox who are 23-22.

Even though I am in no way taking the Indians lightly, I still think that the Detroit Tigers should be at the top of the division at the end of the season.  However they are clearly not playing as well as they should.  One reason I think that is because we have seen this song and dance with the Indians before.  Last season they began the season at 30-15 and finished the season 80-82.  This team does seem to have a confidence and an expectation to be this good though, so I will give them credit for that.

Game 46

The series begins tonight at 8:10pm EDT with Jeanmar Gomez of Cleveland (3-2, 3.19 ERA) facing off against Jose Quintana (0-0, 0.00) who is making his first start of his career in the majors.  He did pitch 5 2/3 innings on May 7th  against the Cleveland Indians when he was called up as part of the new major league rule for a double-header.  In that appearance of starter Philip Humber he didn’t allow a run.  He allowed just one hit, walked two and struck out three in his appearance.  He is getting the call-up because the White Sox have placed John Danks was placed on the 15-day DL with shoulder soreness.

For Cleveland Gomez did not fair well in his one start against the White Sox as he allowed eight runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings of work back on May 9th.  But not only has Gomez done better having 4 quality starts in his last 5 outings, but the Indians are hitting better too.  And that begins with leadoff man Shin-Soo Choo.  Quintana will need to be careful with him today.

In other White Sox news, Addison Reed, who has a 4.05 ERA in 17 appearances has officially been named the closer for the White Sox.

Game 47

In Saturday’s afternoon game that I am attending we will see a battle of experienced veterans who are leading their teams in wins and ERA.  The game begins at 4:10pm EDT as Jake Peavy (5-1, 2.39 ERA) will take the mound against Derek Lowe (6-2, 2.15 ERA).  Both pitchers are pitching like CY Young candidates and I hope I get to see a pitchers duel on Saturday.  However it could get rained out.  The forecast doesn’t look to promising.  If that is the case I have no idea what my friend (who is an Indians fan) will do.  We were planning on heading back to Columbus on Sunday afternoon.  We shall see.  As for the game, Lowe has yet to see the White Sox this season but Peavy has.  He picked up a win back on May 9th allowing one run on seven hits, walking one and striking out five.  I hope he is able to do that again.

Game 48

The final game of the three game set begins at 2:10pm EDT on Sunday as Gavin Floyd (3-5, 3.66 ERA) will face off against Ubaldo Jimenez (5-3, 5.02 ERA).  Both pitchers have had games where they have been a bit wild, so if there is going to be any game that is high scoring, this one could be it I think.  Floyd is 1-2 with an 8.31 ERA in his last three starts which is not a good sign.  He has yet to face the Indians this season.  Jimenez has been better in his last few starts, but his is still walking a lot of guys.  He has walked 38 batters in his 9 starts this season, including a season high six in a loss against the White Sox back on May 1st.

This will be a fantastic series and a fun weekend in Chicago for me as I will head out in an hour or so.  I don’t know how much blogging I will be able to do until I return, but I will be posting a lot of photos when I do as it will be my first game at U.S. Cellular Field.  I have two wishes:  to not have the game rained out and to see a White Sox win on Saturday.  LET’S GO WHITE SOX!!!

Well the White Sox certainly needed that one.  A lot has been made on the Chicago radio stations of the White Sox struggling against teams within their division.  Especially the ones they should beat, such as the struggling Minnesota Twins.

(David Banks/Getty Images)

On a windy night on the south side of Chicago the White Sox were able to defeat the Twins by a score of 11-8 thanks to five homeruns, three of them in the bottom of the 6th alone, one of which was a grand slam off the bat of Alejandro De Aza.  Going into the inning, the White Sox were trailing by a score of 5-4.  Paul Konerko stepped to the plate against Minnesota rookie Cole De Vries.  The young rookie will learn real quick that if you make a mistake to Konerko, more often than not you will pay dearly for it.  That is exactly what happened as he hung a 3-2 slider that flew just over the left field wall.

(David Banks/Getty Images)

That was followed by a 4-seam fastball that hung up in the zone on a 1-1 pitch to Alex Rios.  That ball was ABSOLUTLY crushed and was a no-doubt homer to left to give the White Sox a 6-5 lead.  I was already extatic as were the fans on the tv…it would get better.

(David Banks/Getty Images)

That homer by Rios would get starter Cole De Vries knocked out of the game to hit the showers.  His final line would be giving up six runs (3 earned) on six hits, walking one and striking out four.  The bullpen didn’t give Minnesota much help either.  They would load the bases as Alejandro De Aza would come to the plate.  He would turn on a 1-0 slider and hit the ball into the bullpen in right field for the grand slam!  That gave the Sox a 10-5 lead and they didn’t look back.

(David Banks/Getty Images)

Phil Humber, who started for the White Sox got a no-decision on the night as he lasted just 4 1/3 innings.  He allowed five runs on six hits, walking three and striking out four.  He has yet to win since his perfect game on April 21st.  Humber allowed a run in the 3rd on a bloop single to Jamey Carroll and also a three-run homer to Joe Mauer in the 5th.

(David Banks/Getty Images)

The first homer for the White Sox came off the bat of A.J. Pierzynski in the 2nd inning on a ball that looked like it was going foul in right, but the swirling winds kept it in play to give the Sox a 1-0 lead at the time.  A.J. also made a great play in the 5th when he tagged out Brian Dozier who was trying to score.  The out was huge then and even bigger looking back in hindsight.  The last homer was by Dayan Viciedo who hit a high fly ball that just kept going down the left field line.  The White Sox also added three runs, all unearned in the 3rd inning.  Thanks to a bad throw by Alexi Casilla to allow De Aza to reach safely with one out in the inning.  That would be followed by a single by Gordon Beckham, a 2-out RBI single by Paul Konerko and then a 2-run RBI double by Alex Rios.

(David Banks/Getty Images)

The Twins did make a furious rally thanks to Justin Morneau.  He hit a long solo blast to deep center in the 7th and then hit a 2-run homer off newly anointed closer Addison Reed in the 9th.  But they thankfully fell short.  Maybe it was the power of Snoop?  Ok,maybe not.  The win pushes the White Sox to 23-22 and 3 1/2 games behind the division leading Tribe who come into town this weekend for a 3-game set.  LET’S GO WHITE SOX!!!

It has been an up-and-down year for the Chicago White Sox (22-22).  They win four, drop three.  Then win four lose five.  And it goes on and on…it’s a roller coaster ride.

They have struggled to get above .500 and stay there.  With tonight’s game against the Twins beginning at 8:10pm EDT the White Sox should have a good shot at getting above .500, but staying there will not be easy as the AL Central leading Cleveland Indians (25-18) are coming to town over the weekend.

I am going to the game on Saturday for my first trip to U.S. Cellular Field!  Although I am excited, I hope that the team will play the way I know they can and put some consistent wins together.  Getting a win tonight would be a good start.

Philip Humber (1-2, 5.31 ERA) will take the mound opposed by Cole De Vries (0-0, 0.00 ERA) who is making his MLB debut.  Humber had a no-decision on Friday against the Cubs and looked good on the mound.  In his last two starts he has allowed just three runs over 13 innings.  De Vries is a local boy for the Twins coming from the University of Minnesota.  He had a 1-4 record with a 4.24 ERA in AAA.  The rookie will have his hands full against the middle of the lineup that includes Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski.  If the White Sox can get a lead early and hold it through the 6th inning, that will be a good omen as they are 20-2 when leading after six innings.

LET’S GO WHITE SOX!!!

Chris Sale was absolutely brilliant.

(David Banks/Getty Images)

Last night he threw seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and walking only two batters while striking out six Minnesota batters.  It was just the type of performance that the White Sox needed after dropping Tuesday’s series opener.  In his 97 pitch effort he had the Twins off-balance all evening with complete command of the strike zone.  The single he allowed to Joe Mauer in the first, his walk to him in the 4th, his single to Trevor Plouffe in the 5th, and his walk to Darin Mastorianni in the 6th was all that he would allow in the game.  With the win, Sale moves to 5-2 as a starter with a 2.50 ERA.

(David Banks/Getty Images)

The bullpen also didn’t allow a run to score in the game.  Jesse Crain did allow the Twins to load the bases in the 8th, but he struck out Alexi Casilla to end the frame.  Matt Thorton would pitch in the 9th for the White Sox and although he would walk two batters, he would get Justin Morneau to ground into a double play and get Ryan Doumit to fly out to center to end the game for the shutout.

(David Banks/Getty Images)

The 6-0 win was a good one for the White Sox that gets them back to .500 on the season.  Their offense was good tonight but was also assisted by three errors in the game by the Twins that helped score two of the runs.  Adam Dunn would have an RBI single in the 1st to give Chicago a 1-0 lead thanks to an error in the inning.  In the top of the 4th, Alex Rios would hit a 2-run homer that would push the lead to 3-0.  A.J. Pierzynski would have an RBI single in the 6th and Orlando Hudson would have his first RBI as a Chicago White Sox on a ground out to 2nd that would score Alex Rios who reached on an error earlier in the inning.

(CSNChicago.com)

Paul Konerko would hit his 9th homer of the season to give the White Sox their final run of the game.  “Captain clutch” seemed to be fully recovered from being hit in the eye last Friday as he went 3-for-4 in the game.  He would lead the White Sox hitting attack that would score the six runs on 10 hits in the game.  Konerko now leads the American League in batting average at .381 and on base percentage at .462 to begin the season.

As Hawk Harrelson would say, “Don’t stop now boys…”