Offtrack
10-17-2005, 01:18 AM
Oct. 16, 2005, 11:22PM
ALCS
Chisox surge into World Series
6-3 win over Angels puts team in Classic for first time since 1959
By DAVID BARRON
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
ANAHEIM, CALIF. - First the Chicago White Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels with kismet. Then they bludgeoned the Angels twice with early-inning power and starting pitching the likes of which hasn't been seen in the playoffs in 30 years.
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Finally, with a World Series berth on the line Sunday night, the White Sox combined all of the above — a fourth consecutive complete game from their starting pitcher, some timely hits and another bizarre bit of blooper-quality kismet — for a 6-3 victory in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.
And as rain fell on the Angel Stadium turf and the sharp pop of exploding Thunderstix echoed among the disappointed crowd of 44,712, the White Sox laughed and hugged and celebrated the South Side nine's first trip to the World Series since 1959.
Jose Contreras allowed five hits and joined Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland and Freddy Garcia in going the distance for the White Sox, and Joe Crede tied the game with a homer in the seventh inning and drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth.
"We find a way to get it done," White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "This team is amazing. Four complete games in a row, and we find just enough hits to win. The Angels played great, but this is unbelievable."
"I don't have words to describe what the starting staff has done in this series," said outfielder Scott Podsednik. "They set the tone from day one. They deserve the credit for this series."
According to Elias Sports Bureau, the White Sox foursome is the first to throw four consecutive complete games in a playoff series since the New York Yankees did so, including Don Larsen's perfect game, against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1956 World Series.
The game turned in the eighth inning with the score tied 3-3 and reliever Kelvim Escobar working his second inning for the Angels.
Escobar struck out Paul Konerko and Carl Everett, but center fielder Aaron Rowand worked the count to 3-2 and drew a walk to bring up Pierzynski, who was involved in the Game 2 call by umpire Doug Eddings that led to the White Sox's winning run in the bottom of the ninth and was not called for catcher's interference even though Steve Finley's bat nicked his glove during Game 4.
Pierzynski hit a dribbler toward Escobar, who picked the ball up with his right hand and tagged Pierzynski with his gloved left hand. First base umpire Randy Marsh called Pierzynski out as the Angels ran from the field, just as they did when they thought Escobar had struck out Pierzynski in the bottom of the ninth in Game 2.
But Marsh conferred with the rest of the umpiring crew and reversed the call, putting men at first and second. The Angels brought in reliever Francisco Rodriguez to face Crede, who went to 3-2, then singled on a bouncer up the middle to score Rowand.
The White Sox added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth, and Contreras retired the Angels in order, wrapping up the game and the series on Casey Kotchman's grounder to first baseman Paul Konerko.
For the first time in three games at Angel Stadium, LA held the White Sox off the board in the first. The White Sox got on the board in the second, though, with a classic "smart ball" sequence.
Aaron Rowand led off with a double just inside the right field line, went to third on a first-pitch sacrifice bunt by catcher A.J. Pierzynski and scored on third baseman Joe Crede's sacrifice fly to left center.
The Angels got the run back in the bottom of the third, but Vladimir Guerrero's continued struggles at the plate cost LA a chance to take the lead. DH Juan Rivera led off with a liner that dropped in left and went to second when Podsednik juggled the ball. He went to third when Contreras threw the ball into center field on an attempted pickoff and scored on Adam Kennedy's line-drive single.
Chicago knocked Byrd out of the game in the fifth while taking a 2-1 lead. Juan Uribe laced a one-out grounder just inside the third-base line and beat Juan Rivera's throw with a headfirst slide. Podsednik walked to put runners at the corners.
ALCS
Chisox surge into World Series
6-3 win over Angels puts team in Classic for first time since 1959
By DAVID BARRON
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
ANAHEIM, CALIF. - First the Chicago White Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels with kismet. Then they bludgeoned the Angels twice with early-inning power and starting pitching the likes of which hasn't been seen in the playoffs in 30 years.
ADVERTISEMENT
Finally, with a World Series berth on the line Sunday night, the White Sox combined all of the above — a fourth consecutive complete game from their starting pitcher, some timely hits and another bizarre bit of blooper-quality kismet — for a 6-3 victory in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.
And as rain fell on the Angel Stadium turf and the sharp pop of exploding Thunderstix echoed among the disappointed crowd of 44,712, the White Sox laughed and hugged and celebrated the South Side nine's first trip to the World Series since 1959.
Jose Contreras allowed five hits and joined Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland and Freddy Garcia in going the distance for the White Sox, and Joe Crede tied the game with a homer in the seventh inning and drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth.
"We find a way to get it done," White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "This team is amazing. Four complete games in a row, and we find just enough hits to win. The Angels played great, but this is unbelievable."
"I don't have words to describe what the starting staff has done in this series," said outfielder Scott Podsednik. "They set the tone from day one. They deserve the credit for this series."
According to Elias Sports Bureau, the White Sox foursome is the first to throw four consecutive complete games in a playoff series since the New York Yankees did so, including Don Larsen's perfect game, against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1956 World Series.
The game turned in the eighth inning with the score tied 3-3 and reliever Kelvim Escobar working his second inning for the Angels.
Escobar struck out Paul Konerko and Carl Everett, but center fielder Aaron Rowand worked the count to 3-2 and drew a walk to bring up Pierzynski, who was involved in the Game 2 call by umpire Doug Eddings that led to the White Sox's winning run in the bottom of the ninth and was not called for catcher's interference even though Steve Finley's bat nicked his glove during Game 4.
Pierzynski hit a dribbler toward Escobar, who picked the ball up with his right hand and tagged Pierzynski with his gloved left hand. First base umpire Randy Marsh called Pierzynski out as the Angels ran from the field, just as they did when they thought Escobar had struck out Pierzynski in the bottom of the ninth in Game 2.
But Marsh conferred with the rest of the umpiring crew and reversed the call, putting men at first and second. The Angels brought in reliever Francisco Rodriguez to face Crede, who went to 3-2, then singled on a bouncer up the middle to score Rowand.
The White Sox added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth, and Contreras retired the Angels in order, wrapping up the game and the series on Casey Kotchman's grounder to first baseman Paul Konerko.
For the first time in three games at Angel Stadium, LA held the White Sox off the board in the first. The White Sox got on the board in the second, though, with a classic "smart ball" sequence.
Aaron Rowand led off with a double just inside the right field line, went to third on a first-pitch sacrifice bunt by catcher A.J. Pierzynski and scored on third baseman Joe Crede's sacrifice fly to left center.
The Angels got the run back in the bottom of the third, but Vladimir Guerrero's continued struggles at the plate cost LA a chance to take the lead. DH Juan Rivera led off with a liner that dropped in left and went to second when Podsednik juggled the ball. He went to third when Contreras threw the ball into center field on an attempted pickoff and scored on Adam Kennedy's line-drive single.
Chicago knocked Byrd out of the game in the fifth while taking a 2-1 lead. Juan Uribe laced a one-out grounder just inside the third-base line and beat Juan Rivera's throw with a headfirst slide. Podsednik walked to put runners at the corners.