Newman's number 2 diamond had been closed since Tuesday with standing water over most of the infield. After two days of sun, she had just about dried up. But scattered showers in the forecast for today put a big question mark over the White Sox vs Orioles showdown this evening. Fortunately--and uncharacteristically--the showers seemed to scatter elsewhere, and with Park and Rec's stamp of approval the game would be on.
For this hastily-scheduled make-up of Wednesday's rainout, the White Sox would be out six key players to the soccer tournament, holiday weekend travel, and a variety of other commitments. Somehow, they would have to make it work without Jared, Zach, Mike, Tim, Will, and Micah. That's like trying to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when you've just run out of peanut butter.
But the White Sox have shown that they are scrappy, resourceful, and they never give up no matter what the situation is. When you're out of peanut butter, you can always grind up a jar of peanuts you find in the back of the cupboard. The White Sox called up Terrence again (who will soon be looking for a contract), along with Angelo and Lucas, and they would be able to field a squad of nine.
Would that be enough to withstand the hard-throwing, heavy-hitting Orioles?
Top of the first, and the visiting White Sox would send Eric to the plate to lead it off. Eric belted a line drive into right center that looked deep enough for two--which is exactly what Eric was thinking right out of the box. Unfortunately, the Orioles' center fielder had other ideas, chased it down and gunned it into second a few steps ahead of Eric. Credit the Orioles with an impressive outfield assist.
One out for Tom, who ripped one up the third base line and beat out an infield single. He advanced to second on a single off the bat of Jeffrey to give Dan two on, still with one out. Dan hit a long fly ball to center field, but that pesky Orioles' center fielder--the same one who three batters earlier gunned Eric down at second--lined it up and Dan was out despite hitting the ball hard. Tom tagged at second, but a good quick throw to third beat him there. Tom put on the brakes and was caught in a run-down. He managed to escape only when the ball got by the third baseman. Lucky. Two outs, runners on the corners for Terrence, a very reliable contact hitter. With two away, though, he would need to do more to score Tom than put the ball in play. The White Sox needed a base hit, and that is exactly what Terrence delivered in the clutch. He launched one past the shortstop into left field for an RBI single, giving the Sox an early 1-0 lead. It was clear that the runs were not going to come easily tonight, and the Sox were glad to piece one together in the first.
The White Sox sent Dan to the mound to start. He was sharp, pounding the zone with good fire, but the Orioles can hit and managed two runs in the bottom of the first. Dan struck out two and got one to ground to first, where Jeffrey took care of business unassisted. 2-1, Orioles.
Joshua led off the second and singled on a hard liner to right, the first of three singles for him on the night. But that would be all the Sox could muster in the second as they were facing a tough Orioles righty who was hitting his spots.
Dan returned for the second, and got his outs the same was as he did in the first. Two by way of the K and a grounder to Jeffrey at first unassisted. It was a battle all the way for Dan, but this kid is tough. He does not get flustered out there. He just makes his pitches. All business. The Orioles put up two more in the inning, but Dan did well to limit the damage there and keep his team in the game.
4-1, Orioles, going into the third. Tom would lead off with a long single, a shot into left center. But that would be the only noise in the inning for the Sox.
Eric took the ball for the third. The hard-throwing lefty mowed down two and got one to pop up to short where Dan made a nice grab to haul it in. A zero on the board, and the game still within reach for the Sox. 4-1.
Drew stepped in to get things going for the Sox in the fourth, and worked a full-count walk in a brilliant at-bat. He swung at the pitches he needed to, took those he should have. He was on base for the first of three times tonight, and Joshua had something to work with. Joshua put fat metal on a fastball over the outside part of the plate and sent it past the second baseman for his second hit of the night, and the White Sox had a rally going. But the unflappable Orioles pitcher would find a way to retire the next three. Still 4-1, Orioles.
Eric was nearing his pitch count (the Sox wanted him available for Monday's game vs. the first-place Astros), but he had a few batters left in him. He struck out the first two he faced and then handed the ball to Jeffrey, who in an outing that would last only four pitches, fanned a third to give the Sox a quick zero for the bottom of the fourth.
Down by three runs with their chances dwindling, the White Sox knew they had to get something going in the fifth. But, smart and patient, they also knew that getting something going does not mean swinging for the fences. They understood that when you need runs, you need baserunners. Make good choices at the plate, take a walk if that's what's given to you, swing at strikes.
Tom led off with a single, his third in three at-bats. Jeffrey singled and moved Tom over, and once again the White Sox had a rally going, only this time they were able to cash in. Dan singled in Tom and Jeffrey (at the end of a rundown and a close call at the plate) to cut the Orioles' lead to one. Terrence followed the pattern with a fourth consecutive base hit, a single that brought in Dan to tie the game. The White Sox dugout erupted in cheers, but they were not satisfied just to tie it up.
Drew kept the line moving, working another free pass, to bring up Angelo, representing the AA Corpus Chirsti Hooks and playing in only his second AAA game. Two pitches in, he faced an 0-2 count with one out and runners on the corners. Any ground ball could bring in the go-ahead run. But Angelo would do better than that. He knocked a screamer past the second baseman for a single and the RBI that would put the White Sox on top for the first time since the top of the first, 5-4.
With a slim, hard-earned one-run lead, the Sox would put the ball in the capable hands of their closer, Tom, who would try for the two-inning save. The tough Orioles' lineup was not ready to lie down, and they put two on with nobody out. Then a single tied the game, still with nobody out. Tom was not rattled, though. He stayed calm and confident, and just went about the business of making his pitches. He got the next batter to chop one back to the mound. Tom gloved it and fired to Eric at first for one, Eric pivoted and gunned it home where Jeffrey applied the tag for the double play. Great baseball! With two away now, suddenly, Tom's job seemed a whole lot easier, and he struck out the next batter with three pitches.
Tie ball game going into the last. A flame thrower on the mound for the Orioles fanned the first two, and the White Sox were down to their last chance to win the game. Terrence took a walk. Once again showing great patience, Drew worked the count full and then walked to bring Joshua to the plate. Both Drew and Terrence would advance on a passed ball to put two in scoring position and the go-ahead run 60 feet away at third. With two strikes, Joshua found himself in quite a situation: final inning of a tie game, two on, two out, two strikes. It doesn't get more clutch than that. The White Sox had the right guy at the plate, though. With two hits already tonight, he had a hot bat going for him. Joshua saw the 0-2 fastball well and got all of it, launching it past the second baseman into right field to bring Terrence across and put the White Sox back on top, 6-5.
The crowd on the hill at Newman cheered the run, but then a tense silence fell upon the White Sox dugout and fans alike. They had seen how dangerous the Orioles lineup could be, and a one-run lead gave nobody any peace of mind. Except maybe Tom, who took the mound fully aware of the pressure but completely unfazed by it. After walking the leadoff batter, he bore down and struck out the side for the save and the White Sox fifth win in a row.
A great performance for the White Sox, and a thrilling come-from-behind victory. This win was possible because every player stayed patient at the plate, worked to get on base, and make the most of the opportunities they were given. We also benefited from excellent pitching that kept us in the game for six innings and put us in good position to win it. No matter what happened tonight, the White Sox stayed confident, believed in themselves, and supported each other. This is what good teams do.
A special thank you to Lucas, Angelo, and Terrence for their many contributions to our success tonight.
The game ball was awarded to Joshua, who was 3-for-4 at the plate and knocked in the game-winning RBI with a single in the sixth. Congratulations, Joshua!
On Monday at Cusick, the White Sox take on the Astos, currently tied with the Sox for second place. This game promises to be an exciting match-up between two of the league's powerhouses. See you there!
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