MLB.com: "White Sox work to keep pace with Tigers"

[TheCouga]

Just go to their home page.

http://www.mlb.com

It's the first story!

I can't believe I am seeing that this year. :cheeky:

[olbiadle]

The Game is on ESPN2 here in Seattle, so I assume it's the national game?
Hey Couga, rename your thread so that this can be the obvious "follow the White Sox game thread" for sole possession of first in the AL Central and best record in the majors.

[estrepe1]

Yeah the White Sox game is going to be on ESPN2 nationally.

[dt35456884]

http://tampabay.devilrays.mlb.com/tb/images/fan_forum/wallpapers/y2005/WIN_800x600.jpg

Let's go, Rays!

[olbiadle]

http://tampabay.devilrays.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060517&content_id=1458283&vkey=news_tb&fext=.jsp&c_id=tb

Rays, Hendrickson playing for series win
05/18/2006 7:00 PM ET
By Bill Chastain / MLB.com

Mark Hendrickson will make his sixth start of the season. He took the loss in his last outing Saturday against the Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. He is 0-2 at home this season and he has a career record of 0-0 with a 4.45 ERA in six career appearances against the White Sox.

Hendrickson's opponent is Javier Vazquez, who will try to get back on track after his four-game winning streak was snapped by an 8-4 loss to Minnesota on Saturday. The right-hander allowed seven earned runs in the outing, five in one inning alone. He's never lost to the Devil Rays, however, and carries a 4.91 ERA in games against Tampa Bay.

The Rays have hit 46 home runs thus far, which is their most after 40 games since 2000, when they had 49. They have homered 24 times in 19 home games, including six of their last seven contests at Tropicana Field.

Following their three-game series against the White Sox, the Rays will host the Marlins for a three-game series before embarking on a nine-game road trip against the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Orioles.

Pitching matchup
CWS: RHP Javier Vazquez (4-2, 3.88 ERA)
The Rays have struck out 27 times in 29 1/3 innings against Vazquez.

TB: LHP Mark Hendrickson (2-3, 3.24 ERA)
Opponents are hitting .197 against Hendrickson this season.

Player to watch
Russ Branyan has a career .667 career average with two home runs and three RBIs against Vazquez.

[JonBenke]

I traded Javier Vazquez for Adam Dunn in my league, for two reasons; I wanted a bigger bat, and really -- I didn't want to route for him any longer!!

GO RAYS!!

[TheCouga]

The Game is on ESPN2 here in Seattle, so I assume it's the national game?
Hey Couga, rename your thread so that this can be the obvious "follow the White Sox game thread" for sole possession of first in the AL Central and best record in the majors.

I can't edit the title of a thread. But let us proclaim here that this is the official game thread!

[olbiadle]

1st Batter
Walk to Ozuna
not how this should start....
Iguchi up...bunts ozuna over to second
one out

[olbiadle]

Thome legs out a single, runners at the corners, still one out. Konerko up.

[olbiadle]

konerko hits a 400 foot double, ozuna scores, thome to third.

[olbiadle]

sac fly by dye, thome scores 2-0 White Sox 2 outs in the first crede up.

[olbiadle]

Crede pops out to 3rd.
Middle of the First.
2-0 White Sox
I'm done with updates. I think I am jinxing it.
I'll let someone else do the updates, if they want.

[estrepe1]

The CF should have had that Konerko double. Doesn't hurt too badly though I suppose.

[TheCouga]

Gathright probably would have caught that.

Anyhow, the Rays get a run back. I really like this Rays team. They're going to be good in 2 or 3 years. Especially if they get some pitching.

[TheCouga]

Let's see Branyan get a jack right here.

[estrepe1]

Let's see Branyan get a jack right here.

TheCouga asks and Branyan delivers.

[TheCouga]

TheCouga asks and Branyan delivers.

Hell yeah!

[tigerfanfromchicago]

It's 3-2 Chicago in the 5th after an Iguchi home run. Tampa had a man on third with one out last inning and couldn't score him.

[TheCouga]

Hendrickson with a 5 pitch inning. The longer he can stay in there, the better. If the Rays don't have the lead by the time the TB bullpen comes in, it's over. In fact, it's probably over even if they have the lead when the bullpen comes in, but at least there is some chance if Hendrickson goes the whole game or can at least make it to the eighth.

[FloridaTigers]

We've had no ESPN game yet...

NO RESPECT AT ALL :cheeky:

[TheCouga]

Hopefully, Branyan can come through again. He has good career numbers versus Vazquez.

[estrepe1]

Why bunt? Ridiculous!

[TheCouga]

Hollins!!!!

[estrepe1]

Hollins hits a blast to take the lead.

4-3 D-Rays

[TheCouga]

Way to go!! 2-0 count, wait for a mistake, and drive it!

[jackson_cannery]

Can you say 1.0?

[dt35456884]

Hollins!!!!

Hell yes!

[TheCouga]

Let's see if Lugo can swipe second here.

[JonBenke]

Let's see if Lugo can swipe second here.
HEY -- NOW ASK FOR A CRAWFORD HIT!!!

[dt35456884]

Let's see if Lugo can swipe second here.

Give us some more, Miss Cleo.

[tigerfanfromchicago]

Carl Crawford triples to make it 5-3!

[TheCouga]

I guess he can. More steals for my fantasy team.

Crawford!!!!

[JonBenke]

...holy mollie; Crawford is one fast mofo!!

[estrepe1]

Triple by Crawford brings home Lugo. 5-3 D-Rays

[Yoda]

The kid can fly...

[TheCouga]

Awesome.

To top it off, Lugo and Crawford are on my fantasy team. It's head to head, and I desperately need SB's this week. Lugo got me two now, and Crawford comes through with an RBI.

If you are the D-Rays, you have to leave Hendrickson in here. No middle relief at all. Hopefully, he can go the whole way.

[tigerfanfromchicago]

Dye homers... 5-4

[TheCouga]

God do I hate Dye.

[JonBenke]

PLEASE, PLEASE -- do not blow this, D'Rays bullpen, and yes, I know you blow, but don't blow, don't blow the game, so don't have your game blow...

Yeah, that makes sense -- right ?

[Yoda]

I wish Dye would... well you know.

[TheCouga]

The ever-annoying Crede has been retired.

Now the ever-annoying Chris Widger is up.

[TheCouga]

I think Walker will be able to close out the ninth, if TB can just get out of this inning unscathed.

[TheCouga]

I sure hope Orvella can throw strikes. His control hasn't been exactly great this year.

[TheCouga]

Good god.

[MichiganFan1717]

Come on 4 outs to go so that I can see my Tigs in 1st 40 games in for the 1st time in my life.

[travis]

YES! 1 inning left.

[MichiganFan1717]

Make that 3 outs

[tigers2series]

3 outs to first place! Grab it and dont let it go

[MichiganFan1717]

Hopefully the Rays can give themselves a little cusion here.

[TheCouga]

Thank god. One pitch, inning over. Podsenik swinging at the first pitch, and it was a bad one. But I'll certainly take it.

Time for Tyler "Strike Out the Side With the Bases Loaded" Walker to slam the door.

[travis]

"Dare we call it...the Posednik Adventure?"

Berman seems a little tentative doing baseball, but I thought that was funny.

[TheCouga]

Give us some more, Miss Cleo.

Allright. If I haven't done it before, let's see if Walker can get the save here!

[estrepe1]

Berman should be tentative doing baseball. He is only a bit better than Jim Price.

1 out away.

[tigers2series]

HELLO FIRST PLACE!

[travis]

YYYEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Now if you'll excuse me I have some people I need to call, facebook, and instant message. Later.

[estrepe1]

Its still too early to really get excited.... but hey I can't help it... I am excited to see the Tigers in first! Its been a long time.

[TheCouga]

Screw you, Bite Cox!!

How does second place feel?

[One Man's Fool]

Sux lose!!!!!!

As your sucky announcer would say, grab some bench.

[Lbh24]

not gonna lie, this feels great

[dt35456884]

Goin' all Kenyan on the White Sox, baby.

http://im.rediff.com/sports/2006/jan/15look.jpg

Leading the marathon.

[DET Mr Malefic]

We're #1!