Pitching Another Shutout (Almost)

Let me start with some breaking news, (drum roll) I am now on Twitter. (raucous applause)

Now back to today's game. Floyd pitched a helluva game, maybe his best of the year. The key for Floyd is keeping runners off base and thus staying out of the stretch. I think he loses his rhythm when he has to worry about using the slide step to hold runners on and it makes his curve ball way less effective. The only inning he got into any trouble was in the seventh when he issued a two out walk, followed by a liner that Alexei possibly could have caught, followed by another walk to load the bases. Ironically, with the bases loaded, he was able to go back to the windup and was able to get out of the inning, on what was a very interesting play. Floyd fielded a little tapper right on the first base line and the ball was originally called foul but Floyd fielded the ball and threw it to first and the play was later ruled fair, much to Eric Wedge's dismay.

The Sox piled on four runs in the top of the ninth, which at the time seemed unsubstantial because we already at a two run lead. But in the bottom of the ninth, Thornton gave up a solo home run and then Dotel came in and gave up a two-run homer so those four runs in the ninth then looked huge. Of course if we didn't get those four runs, Bobby Jenks would have been in the game and everything would have been different but this proves that every run does matter. (sort of)

I said two days ago that Beckham's walk-off hit was going to jump start his season, and so far I am feeling pretty good about that statement. He had another good game tonight, going 3-3 with 2 RBI. He also made some nice plays in the field to go along with his good day at the plate.

Notes From Out of Left Field

• Gordan Beckham has many skills, basestealer may not be one of them.


• Newly acquired Indians pitcher, Chris Perez didn't take long to get on the White Sox bad list, drilling Alexei in the head with a slider and then running a fastball in on Jermaine Dye's hands, literally.


• Maybe the pitch to Alexei's head will knock the lackadaisical throws out of him. (only joking)


• An Pierzynski line drive just about nailed Jeff Cox down at third, luckily the old man still has some reflexes to go along with a good pair of hands that he likes to flash on occasion.


• Did I mention that I am now on Twitter?