I don't know if I can form coherent complete thoughts right now, so let's just go with some bullet points
- White Sox pitching held the Cubs hitless with RISP for the first 16 innings of the series... And then Scott Linebrink entered the game (presumably to help Jenks in his next arbitration case by creating some more save opportunities)
- Linebrink has now allowed runs in 4 of his last 5 outings, including 2 losses and today's debacle. His line over that stretch looks like this: 4.1 IP, 7H, 7R, 2ER, 4BB, 4K, 3HR. He's also allowed the only inheritted runner he's had to score.
- That bullpen that Hawk likes to talk up so much has blown a lead or tie in 5 of the last 10 games.
- Alfonso Soriano entered the 9th hitting .125 with RISP and hitless in his last 17 such opportunities -- a middle-in, thigh-high fastball was about one of the only pitches he was going to be able to do anything with in a 2-strike count.
- Not that Thornton should have ever faced Soriano, who's never met a slider he couldn't swing at. If you're going to pitch to him with a base open, Dotel or Jenks were the proper call.
- The bottom of the lineup had a productive day at the plate, but Chris Getz' fielding woes may have negated it all.
- Gordon Beckham had his most productive day as a pro, reaching base in all 4 of his plate appearances and collecting his first multi-hit game to extend his hit-streak to a career high 4 games.
- Gavin Floyd's hairy balls are still present. They've just been overshadowed by a rabid, vulturous bullpen