Sox 7, Indians 3; Rios Finally Comes Through

With the score tied 3-3 in the 10th inning, Alex Rios connected for a grand slam into the White Sox bullpen for the slam off victory.  It sent the crowd home happy after a very frustrating afternoon.  The Sox had the bases loaded with 1 out in the 1st, 6th, 8th and 9th and only came away with two runs in the 6th.  They left 15 runners on base in the game but when they loaded them up in the 10th, Rios cleared them.  

In the first, Alexei Ramirez and Paul Konerko had back to back one out singles, which A.J. Pierzynski followed up with a walk.  Rios and Adam Dunn then struck out to end the inning.  

In the 2nd, Alejandro De Aza led off with a double and scored on a Gordon Beckham double to give the Sox a 1-0 lead.

In the 6th, Dunn hit a one out single to center.  De Aza followed it up with another double putting runners on 2nd and 3rd.  Back to back walks to Brent Morel and Gordon Beckham brought home a run, and Pierre smoked a single to center to score De Aza, giving the Sox a 3-2 lead at the time.  With the bases loaded and only 1 out, Ramirez struck out and Konerko bounced out weakly to short to end the inning.

In the 8th, De Aza drew a lead off walk.  After a Morel sac bunt, Beckham and Pierre also walked to load the bases.  Ramirez struck out looking and Konerko flew to right to end the threat.

In the 9th, Pierzynski doubled to lead off the inning and Rios was intentionally walked.  Guillen let Dunn bat against left hander Tony Sipp, who struck him out on three fastballs.  Dayan Viciedo pinch hit for De Aza and drew a walk to load the bases again.  This time it was Morel's turn to K and Beckham popped out to the catcher to end another inning.   

In the 10th, Pierre led off with a hustle double.  After Ramirez popped up a questionable sac bunt attempt, Konerko and Tyler Flowers drew walks, which brought up Rios and finally ended the game. 

The heroes of the game were definitely the White Sox pitching.  Sox hurlers struck out 15 Indian batters (Humber 7, Crain 2, Sale 4, Santos 2) and kept the Sox in the game long enough for Rios' heroics.  Philip Humber gave up 2 runs over 6 innings and was the beneficiary of a rare Juan Pierre assist at the plate.  The only inning Humber ran into trouble was the 6th as Shelley Duncan led off with a double.  Lonnie Chisenhall singled to make it first and third and Matt Laporta brought them home with a double.  After a Lou Marson groundout to 2nd, Kosuke Fukudome hit a shallow fly ball to left.  Pierre got behind it and blooped it on the money to Pierzynski, who did a beautiful job of blocking the sliding Duncan for the 7-2 inning ending double play.  

Duncan led off the 7th against Jesse Crain with a homer to left to tie the game at 3.  Crain, Chris Sale and Sergio Santos then retired 12 of the next 13 batters which set the stage for Rios. 

* Guillen let Adam Dunn hit in the 9th inning but pinch hit for De Aza who was 2-3 with 2 doubles and a walk at the time.  Things that make you say huh.

* Morel proved he could play long ball Thursday night with 2 homers and he proved he could play small ball today with 2 sac bunts.  Personally I wish he would have popped up the attempt like Ramirez did in the 10th. 

* Pierre was 2-5 with a walk and the gun down at the plate. 

WP: Santos (4-4)

LP: Perez (3-7)

HR: Duncan (9), Rios (10)

Record: 73-71 | Box