Given that the Pale Hose had dropped their previous ten games against the Jays, a 2-2 series split might, in some quarters, be viewed with a certain satisfaction. To snap such a longstanding spell – and to do it with former Blue Jay Alex Rios leading the charge – might provide succor on the South Side.
But it won’t. Instead, panic buttons from Pullman to Pilsen are receiving more energetic jabbing than the Fielder family turkey at Thanksgiving. With a loss record equaling basement-dwelling Cleveland, Sox fans – a proudly dour and fatalist bunch to begin with – need little more than a pair of staff rotations to divine a glum future AL Central dominated by Twins. Will the pessimism be justified?
The consternation in White Sox Nation has risen upon the recognition that crappy hitting with RISP is not the only way to lose games. This team could leave as few as 4 on base and still lose, as 5th starter Freddy Garcia (L, 0-2, 8.10 3IP 8H 7R 3K) aptly demonstrated last night. Garcia’s 2nd ining lob to Travis Snider for a solo HR was the low point of an 8-hit outing that RH reliever Randy Williams couldn’t get out of. The vaunted rotation is demonstrating something less than complete command.
On the bright side, down by 7 in the 5th, backup C Donny Lucy had little splainin’ to do, sending Dana Eveland’s (W, 2-0, 1.35, 6IP, 3H, 2R, 4K) up fastball into the stands. AJ Pierzynski, fleeing from Canadian justice at the time could not be reached for comment.