SN Report: Red Beats White in Game One

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Red Beats White in Game One

SN Report #342- By Mario Scalise - September 24th, 2002

 

Tuesday nights game at Comiskey Park was a match-up between the Chicago "nothing to lose" White Sox and the Boston "last ditch effort" Red Sox. Unfortunately, the White Sox were able to pull off a win and play the part of spoiler as they lost 4-2.

 

The Red Sox, who entered the game six games behind the Anaheim Angels for the AL Wild Card, beat Jon Garland who gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings. Garland struck out two, but walked five. He threw 99 pitches for the game. The Sox offense, which scored their lone runs on solo homers, were defeated by 24-year old lefty Casey Fossum. The loss put Garland's record at 12-12 and the Sox at 79-78.

 

Frank Thomas started off the Sox for the second game in a row with a solo homer in the first, putting the Sox up 1-0. The home run was Thomas' 28th of this season and 376th first inning home run, tying Carlton Fisk for 50th on the all-time list. That came after a failed bunt attempt by Willie Harris. With Jimenez on first and running on the play, Harris popped out to Fossum, allowing Jimenez to be doubled up at first.

 

Before the fifth inning, the Sox and Jon Garland had a good hold on the game. Garland faced just 12 batters in four inning, and was working with a 2-0 lead, the second run coming off a Joe Crede solo homer. It was Crede's 11th homer and 31st RBI of the season.

 

Garland ran into trouble in the fifth with two straight walks. In between them came passed balls by catcher Miguel Olivo. Garland stayed composed and pitched out of the jam, but more trouble came in the sixth.

 

After the first three batters reached base, a Nomar Garciaparra sac fly put the Red Sox down 2-1. Two batters later, after a Manny Ramirez RBI-single and walk to Brian Daubach, Garland was out of the game in favor of Mike Porzio. Porzio didn't fair much better giving up an infield single and bases-loaded walk, which put Boston up 4-2.

 

Sox relievers Gary Glover, Kelly Wunsch, and Todd Ritchie held the Red Sox to no runs from there after, but so did Fossum and the Red Sox bullpen who recieved the benefit of two double plays and a very unopportunistic Sox lineup. The Sox stranded a total of five baserunners in the last four innings.

 

D'Angelo Jimenez played short and went 1-4. Ordonez, Konerko, Lee, and Rowand each picked up a hit. Miguel Olivo went 0-4 with two strikeouts.

 

The Sox will play game two Wednesday night at 7:05 PM CT on FSN. Derek Lowe will take the hill against Rocky Biddle.