White Sox 6, Astros 0 (bottom of the 4th)
Andy Pettitte continues to struggle, having allowed 6 earned runs in the early going, 4 of ’em on a Scotty Pods grand slam. Other than a Morgan Ensberg double and a Lance Berkman single and a bunch of walks, Jose Contreras (above) has had an easy time of it, helped to no end by a double play Jason Lane hit into during the top of the 4th.
(UPDATE : Chris Burke and Lance Berkman have just gone back-to-back off Contreras ; 6-3, White Sox.
The Chicago Sun-Times’ Rick Telander received some sterling character references today from two of Ozzie Guillen’s gay friends. One is described as an interior decorator, the other, a hairdresser. To paraphrase Woody Page, Ozzie (above) can’t stop perpetuating stereotypes even when he’s not talking.
Aaron Harang tonight against Cleveland : 9 IP, 117 pitches, 7 hits, 6 K’s, 2 walks, no runs. Reds win, 3-0. The Indians are 8 games under .500 and have to be considered one of the bigger disappointments of ’06. Well, them and the new Mobb Deep album.
Much as I’d love see David Wright and Carlos Beltran’s names engraved as co-MVP’s in the NL, the odds of one or both receiving the award took a turn towards doubtful tonight, as Albert Pujols showed no ill-effects from his recent oblique strain. In the Cards’ 10-6 loss to Detroit, Pujols was 4 for 4 with a pair of runs scored and a 9th inning home run off paragon-of-sensitivity Todd Jones. The Tigers’ Justin Verlander (6 IP, 7 hits, 4 earned runs, 5 K’s) picked up his 9th win, no doubt earning him the firmest handshake of all time from Jimmy Leyland.