The Astros had been riding a bruising lineup and an elite stable of pitchers to the top of the AAA standings. The White Sox had won five in a row after falling to the Royals in their season opener. This marquee match-up promised to be a real barn-burner and perhaps even give us a glimpse of what's to come in the playoffs.
In some ways, too, this was to be a rubber match, a test of endurance at the tail end of a long Memorial Weekend chock full of soccer tournaments, trips to the beach, and neighborhood cookouts.
The Astros had their ace on the mound to start. Tom was able to sneak a hot ground ball into left field for a single, though, and give the Sox a man on with one out in the top of the first. Tim worked a walk, and suddenly the White Sox were threatening with two on and one away. But with some flashy leather behind him, the Astros starter was able to escape by way of an impressive 3-6-3 double play to end the Sox half of the first.
Dan took the hill for the Sox. The work horse has logged more than his share of innings for the White Sox this season, and as always he was ready to answer the call today. He got one to pop up to Terrence at third who lined it up and made a textbook catch ranging in for the first out. But the Astros can hit, and their punishing lineup was able to put three on the board before the White Sox could close the door. 3-0, Astros, after one.
Top two... Dan erased any memory of the first with an absolute rocket deep into center field for a long double. It had triple distance, but the Astros outfield did well to get it in quickly and hold Dan up at second. Joshua would move Dan over with a ground ball up the middle that the pitcher managed to stab. He was out at first, but moving Dan to third would prove to be the key to the White Sox first run. Connor stepped in next. He put good metal on a fastball middle in and sent one into left field for a single. Dan scored from third and the Sox were on the board, 3-1.
Eric came in to pitch the bottom of the second and he was sharp, striking out the side and giving his Sox a much needed zero on the board.
Will led off the top of the third with a hard liner into right center for a single. Drew worked the count full but ultimately fell victim to a borderline pitch called strike three. A tough pitch but another great battle for Drew at the plate. Tom worked worked the count and then took ball four which got by the catcher. He jogged towards first, took a look back at the catcher, saw no urgency, and then took off rounding first and sprinting into second. No throw, and a two-bag walk for Tom. Very crafty baserunning! Runners on second and third with two gone for Tim, who hit a long fly ball to left field but the Astros left fielder had room and had it lined up to end the inning. Still 3-1, Astros.
The Astros put up three in their half of the third to extend their lead to five runs.
Jeffrey wasn't going out like that, though. Leading off the fourth, he took a big swing at a good fastball and got all of it. Going, going... Nearly gone! Off the wall in left center field for a triple. With one swing of the bat, Jeffrey brought hope back to the White Sox dugout. The score didn't change, and the Astros pitcher retired the next three to get out of the inning, but what did change was that the White Sox now knew they had a good shot at climbing back into this game.
First, though, the Sox had to put the Astros away in the bottom of the fourth. Eric was nearing his pitch count and the top of a formidable Astros order was on the horizon. Fortunately, Eric had enough gas in the tank for two Ks and Jeffrey was able to come in and make it three. 6-1, Astros, but a newly inspired White Sox dugout was gearing up for a big fifth.
Connor was ready to make it happen with a leadoff single that brought Micah to the plate. Micah knew that his team needed runs, and he knew that when you need runs, you need baserunners. Just get on base. He was patient, worked the count, took ball four, moved Connor into scoring position, and kept the line moving. Two on, nobody out. Will took the same approach and loaded the bases with a free pass of his own. Drew continued the trend, showing patience and making the Astros pitcher work. He fell to a tough called third strike after filling up the count, but it was a costly battle for the pitcher. Great at-bats for the Sox!
Bases loaded with one out for Eric, who took the first pitch right in the knee and literally took one for the team. An ice pack later, he was shaking off a pinch runner. He wanted this. A run would score on the hit batsman to make it 6-2, Astros. That was only the beginning. Tom would bring Micah home on a rip towards second base. The Astros second baseman made a great play to glove it, and Tom was out at first--productively, though. 6-3, Astros.
Tim kept the rally alive with a long single into center field that scored Will, and the lead was cut to two runs. Jeffrey beat out an infield single with a great hustle up the line to make it a one-run game. Suddenly, this game was there for the taking. 6-5, Astros going into the bottom of the fifth.
Tom came out to pitch the fifth and keep the game within reach for his White Sox. He had great stuff tonight, the ball seemed to fly out of his hand. He got the first batter to chop to Dan at shortstop, fire on to Eric at first for out number one. But the next two batters would do some damage, and before Tom could close the door on this one, the Astros had put up two more. 8-5, after five.
last chance for the White Sox... Terrence, disciplined as always, worked a leadoff walk. He would score on a double off the bat of Connor--his third hit of the night--to make it 8-6, Astros. Connor's shot was deep enough for a double, a real beauty, but not quite deep enough for a triple. Connor tried to stretch it but was gunned down by a great throw into third.
The mighty Astros would come out ahead in this contest 8-6. It was excellent baseball with both teams putting a big time hurt on the ball at the plate despite some of the best pitching we've seen to date. The White Sox fought hard, believed in themselves, and nearly completed a spectacular late-innings comeback. I have a feeling these two teams will meet again in the playoffs--and if that happens it will be a heck of a ballgame.
The game ball went to Connor tonight, whose 3-for-3 performance at the plate was responsible for three White Sox runs--runs that kept this game winnable through the last pitch. Congratulations, Connor!
The White Sox are off until this Friday, when we will either take on the Blue Jays or hold a practice depending on how the schedule shakes out. Details on the way!
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