White Sox Take Game 1 of Doubleheader (9/4/10)

If the Sox have any hope of making the playoffs, their makeshift lineup will have to do better than Game 1 of the doubleheader against the visiting Chicago White Sox.

The White Sox were able to solve the mystery of Clay Buchholz (15-6, 2.20 ERA) if only for 2 runs but they were enough. Buchholz pitched a scoreless top of the first before Jon Danks (13-0, 3.56 ERA) took the mound and began his brilliant afternoon. Danks retired the side in order as Buchholz ran into trouble in the second.

Paul Konerko led off the second with a single before new aquisition and former Sox star Manny Ramirez followed with a single of his own to move Konerko to third. AJ Pierzynski banged into a double play but Konerko scored to give Chicago the 1-0 lead. Andruw Jones doubled to extend the inning but Alexi Ramirez struck out to end the frame. The Sox tried to tie the game in the bottom of the second when Adrian Beltre led off with a single. David Ortiz whiffed but Mike Lowell doubled and Jed Lowrie walked to load the bases. The wheels fell off as Bill Hall struck out and Darnell McDonald grounded out to keep the game 1-0.

The Sox got some good defense in the top of the third inning. Omar Vizquel worked a 2 out walk and advanced to third on a single by Alex Rios. Alert Clay Buchholz then caught Vizquel in a rundown trying to steal ending with Jed Lowrie tagging him out. The Sox failed to capitalize on the momentum by not scoring a run in the bottom of the inning.

The White Sox struck again in the top of the 4th. Konerko led off with a ground rule double and moved to third on Manny's ground out. Pierzynski singled home Konerko but was erased on the double play ball hit by Andruw Jones. The score was now 2-0 Chicago and Danks continued to mow the Red Sox down. Ortiz, Lowell and Lowrie failed to reach base as the inept offense continued to flounder.

Buchholz then pitched a scoreless top of the 5th before the offense finally got on the board in the bottom of the inning. Hall opened with a single and McDonald walked, bringing up Marco Scutaro who singled in Hall to cut the deficit in half. That was all the Sox got as JD Drew and Victor Martinez both flied out and Adrian Beltre lined out to end Boston's only real threat of the afternoon.

Shockingly, Buchholz was pulled after 95 pitches for Scott Atchinson. Atchinson gave up 3 singles in the inning but benefitted from a double play to escape without any runs scored. In the bottom of the 6th, Lowrie worked a 2 out walk and Hall singled but McDonald grounded out to end the inning.

Atchinson returned for the top of the 7th but allowed a leadoff double to Andruw Jones. Alexi Ramirez reached on a fielder's choice when Jones was forced at third, but then scored when Gordan Beckham doubled to increase the lead 3-1. Dustin Richardson relieved Atchinson and got out of the inning without any further trouble but the damage was done. It may as well been 30-1 as Danks (who was roughed up by the Yankees last start) shut Boston down in the bottom of the 7th.

Tim Wakefield took the mound for the 8th and pitched a 1-2-3 inning as Sergio Santos replaced the outstanding Danks. The Sox went quietly in the 8th and it appeared the month long slump of the Sox replacements appeared to be at its critical point.

Wakefield pitched a scoreless 9th as Bobby Jenks came in and nailed down the save for Chicago in the bottom of the 9th. The Sox look to John Lackey to win game 2 opposite Gavin Floyd.