A Win--2013 Style!

Finally, after four straight losses, and only two W's in nine games, the Sox won one--2013 style.  Facing one of the best starters in the AL for the Chisox, Sale, a guy who's been on the All-Star squad the past two years and came in at 8-1, the Sox limited their opponent's offense to four runs on just six hits and no freebies. The problem was that while doing so, the hits were all extra bases, including a pair of round trippers. Mujica gave up the fourth Chisox run in relief.  Nevertheless, the Hose were starting five rookies for the first time since 1952 as a way to try to get some life into the lineup.  Featured among these were Betts, playing in only his sixth MLB game and Christian Vasquez at catcher, just called up to replace Pierzynski. Pierz was designated for assignment earlier in the day, his time with the Sox clearly not working anywhere close to what the team had hoped for in the pre-season when they picked him up in the absence of last year's lead catcher, Salty, when he went to the Maarlins as a free agent.

The five rooks went only 3-18, but included a pair of ripping two baggers by Betts, playing as noted in just his sixth game.  Jackie Bradley, Jr. made a diving catch in center in the 2d to snare a hard liner for an out, while in the 7th, Bogaerts took a hard throw from Gomes and made a perfect relay to cut down a Chicago runner at the plate on a perfect reception and tag by the new catcher, Vasquez.

Then came the winning heroics, a la last year. Trailing four zip entering the 8th, the Sox put a trey on the board taking full advantage of the Chisox reliever who came in--and got only the final out in the 8th and one in the 9th. Then, in the last of the 9th, the Sox finished business.  They scored the tying and winning runs when with one gone, Betts was hit by a pitch and then scored the tying run on Danny Nava's double.  Holt then finished things off with a walk-off single scoring Nava. As I'd noted a few weeks ago, Nava gradually seems to be regaining his hitting eye, his BA rising to .226, a good distance above his sub-Mendoza numbers of the first couple of months.

On the pitching side of things, while de la Rosa, also just recalled today, gave up the first three Chi runs, he allowed just six hits and no freebies. Meanwhile as the Hub Hose moved back in breathing room in the 8th, Koji, showing exactly why he was added to the All Star squad today, struck out the entire Chicago side in the 9th to get the win.  Typical Koji: he needed just a total of thirteen pitches to get the job done.

Now, does this mean things have turned around? The Sox are still mired in the Division cellar, a half game south of the Rays, and they still have a bit of a distance to catch the first place O's, but if tonight is a sign of the team returning to its ways of last year, it could be a signal and a turning place for the season. Only time will tell. Papi and Gomes each had a pair of hits, each including a double, and the ribbies ran from top to bottom of the order. There is hope.