Chicago White Sox Win Game Three Over Tampa Bay Rays

The Chicago White Sox have played four games in the past week in which they faced the end of their season with a loss. They have won all four of those games. Two of these elimination games were started by young lefty John Danks, and he is 2-0. Paws up, indeed!

John Danks pitched 6-2/3 innings in today’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays in another blackout at U.S. Cellular Field. Danks was not as sharp as he was on Monday night against the Twins, getting into significant trouble in both of the first two innings. Yet, he battled and was consistently able to make the necessary pitches to get himself out of jams. Other than B.J. Upton’s 7th inning home run that cut a 5-1 lead to 5-3, none of the Rays hitters could really make solid contact off of Danks. For the game, Danks gave up three earned runs, seven hits, walked three, and struckout seven.

Rays pitcher Matt Garza appeared to be on his game early, consistently hitting 96-97 MPH with his fastball and blowing through the White Sox hitters during his first time around the order. However, in his second time around, the White Sox veteran hitters, led by Jim Thome, made adjustments and played enough small ball to manufacture the game-winning runs in the 4th innings. Alexei Ramirez hit a sacrifice fly to score Thome from third, and Dewayne Wise hit a bases clearing double to drive in the other two. The Sox left the 4th inning with a 5-1 lead and Danks and the bullpen combined to complete the Game Three win.

The bullpen was a pleasant surprise for the White Sox. Octavio Dotel came in to pitch for Danks in the 7th and got out of a jam against the only batter he faced. Matt Thornton pitched a solid 8th inning and then handed the game over to Bobby Jenks. The White Sox flame-flowing closer provided a tad bit of drama by allowing the tying run to reach the plate in the person of Carlos Pena after a two-out single by BJ Upton. But Rays hitters were 4-33 combined off of Jenks coming into the game, and left the 5-37 with only a 1 game lead now in the best-of-five series.

The White Sox and Rays will resume their ALDS series tomorrow afternoon beginning at 4:07 CT. Gavin Floyd is scheduled to pitch against Andy Sonnanstine. No one knows what Ozzie will do with the lineup, but one thing is for sure: the White Sox play their best baseball when their backs are against the wall, and when they are playing in front of the crazed blackout at home on the South Side in U.S. Cellular Field. The pitching matchup, the venue, the fan support, and the history of White Sox veterans coming up big in elimination games should place the smart money on the White Sox tomorrow. A White Sox win would send the series back to Tampa for a decisive Game Five on Wednesday, with ace Mark Buehrle most likely on the bump.

We have to get there first, but after our performance this past week, my confidence is sky high. Well done White Sox!

[tags]chicago white sox, tampa bay rays, mlb, mlb playoffs, john danks[/tags]

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