Disposition
Game 136: September 5, 2005
White Sox (85-751), 5
Red Sox (80-56), 3
W: Brandon McCarthy (2-1)
L: Curt Schilling (5-7)
3 games ahead in the division
1 game losing streak
“**** Everybody -- All We Have is Each Other”
So says the t-shirt unveiled this past Friday in the Red Sox clubhouse, according to Peter Gammons. Bill Mueller said, “We’ve got guys here who still [think] we can win games we’ve already lost.” Kevin Millar, the likely instigator, said that his inside source in the Yankee clubhouse told him that his new teammates leave the game as soon as it is over. “You hear stuff about teams that have each other’s backs,” said Millar, “but it’s real here.”
Even the NESN sideline reporters are tougher than their counterparts at YES. Eric “Gamer” Frede took a foul ball from Geoff Blum’s bat on the ankle in the 3rd inning from his usual perch in canvas alley. Let’s see Kimberly Jones do something similar.
In that at bat, Blum ended up dropping a line drive just into fair territory in left field. Manny Ramirez slipped while trying to get the ball and the White Sox third baseman led off with a triple. Schilling staunched the White Sox with aplomb. He induced a ground out to third of Juan Uribe, which Kevin Youkilis deftly handled while looking Blum back to his place. Scott Podsednik walked on 8 pitches but was niftily picked off after the 1-1 pitch to Tadahito Iguchi. Iguchi made contact to line a shot towards short, but Edgar Renteria dashed to his right to catch the liner that died in its flight and forced the Red Sox shortstop to make a speedy adjustment.
The Pale Hose got on the board first in the 4th inning with a Timo Perez RBI single to left field. Rhode Island native and childhood Yankee fan Paul Konerko had previously doubled off the wall and scored with ease.
Blum finally made his way to home plate in the 5th inning. After leading off with a fly ball single to center field, he was driven in by his infield cohort Uribe’s double.
Later in the 5th inning, the White Sox did something I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. I’ll describe best as I can: Uribe, who had reached on a wallball double, reached third base on what I believe is called a sacrifice bunt by Podsednik. Then, Uribe went into motion with Schilling’s pitch that Iguchi bunted, enabling the runner at third to score. What is this mysterious play? I’ve never seen the Red Sox do this. Is this some sort of new fangled thing Ozzie Guillen invented? Guileful man, that Guillen.
The Chicago AL club showed they had power as well. Paul Konerko hit his 34th homer of the season in the 6th inning off of Schilling and Uribe hit his 11th home run on the first pitch he saw from Chad Harville in the 9th inning.
Ramirez notched his 14th assist to end the visitor’s half of the 9th inning. Even more gratifying is that the victim was former Red Sox player and paleontology enthusiast Carl Everett. Ramirez hosed Everett out at second base when the White Sox designated hitter tried to stretch his single into a double.
With a 5-run lead, it seemed that Boston would be shut out for only the fourth time this season. With runners on second and third with 2 out, Tony Graffanino hit a 3-run homer over the Monster to break the drought and perhaps mount the 41st come from behind win of the year. Gabe Kapler would ground out harmlessly to first to end the game, however. Interesting to note that rookie Bobby Jenks has given up only 2 four-baggers, but both were authored by Red Sox hitters (David Ortiz and Graffanino).
Schilling pitched for 6.1 innings with a line of 9 hits, 4 earned runs, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts, and 1 home run. Although he didn’t get a win, he looked much better than he did in his previous start where he gave up multiple extra base hits and long, arcing fly balls. I actually wasn’t expecting a win given this team’s apparent inability to hit rookie pitchers like McCarthy, who pitched 7 innings of 3-hit, shutout ball with only a single walk and 7 strikeouts.
But what do I know? **** what I say; all they have is each other.
