Before I get to the game recap, as I write this (8:55am EST) there are serious rumors going around that have Sammy Sosa coming to the Sox. I have no further details, but I still stand firm on that if we're going to get a big name, it be a pitcher like Mike Mussina. Not that I won't be excited about the added offense, but pitching and defense wins championships.
Boston Globe: Sosa to Boston?
Chicago Tribune: Trade Rumors Escalate
As for the game, well if your a true Sox fan I don't have to go into much detail as i'm sure your eyes were glued to the TV, or ears pealed to the radio, or moden connected to GameCast last night to watch the Sox take the first game of the series 5-3.
Brian Rose wasn't especially effective, he's had some good starts this year, but nothing we can deem a great start. If we're going to take the division, and if the White Sox stay hot we may have to for a shot in the play-offs, Rose has to get it going, and i'm not talking five or six inning stints. We need to start getting seven innings out of him, he's 24 and should be able to.
Clutch situations were the theme of the night, and in two separate occasions with two-out and runners in scoring position the Sox came thru huge. Once with Wilton Veras in the second, and the biggest and deciding blow off the bat of Jason Varitek in the sixth. Tek hit a bomb into the upper-deck in right with a man on, two-out, and a two-strike count. There was no doubt about it when it left the bat.
The Sox bullpen came up big as well, six and two-thirds innings of shut out ball and only one surrendered hit by the combo of Pichardo (W 1-0), Garces (H,7), Cormier (H,4), and Lowe (S,15). The pen was simply masterful, and when trouble arose, it was quickly pitched out of.
Is it me or does Carl Everett thrive on this rivalry? He's done nothing but back up everything he's said about the Yakees and New York. Carl just fell short of the cycle last night, he was only missing the dinger on the night.
Today's feature id Pedro/Rocket part II. The game is scheduled for 1:05pm EST start, and hopefully the result will be the same as part I.