It's Game 2 now between the White Sox and Rays. Let's hope Mark Buehrle is in top form as the Rays' Scott Kazmir takes the mound for Tampa.
Top of the 1st - Kazmir starts the game off by hitting Cabrera (retaliation for yesterday) and then finds himself in a boat load of trouble with the sacks packed with Sox after Swisher walks and Dye singles. After Konerko pops out, Thome singles home Cabrera, Ramirez hits a sac fly that scores Swisher to make it 2-0. Pierzynski hits an odd squibber for an infield single and Uribe strikes out with the bases juiced. Disappointing that the Sox only get two runs considering the type of trouble that they had Kazmir in but you got to like the start. Kazmir near 40 pitches in just one inning. SOX LEAD 2-0.
Bottom of the 1st - With 2 outs, Crawford gets on infield single when Cabrera can't find the ears on a slow roller. Longoria grounds out to end the inning. Got to feel confident with Buehrle on the mound. SOX LEAD 2-0.
Top of the 2nd - With 2 outs, Swisher walks and Dye singles again to left. Another visit to the mound by the Rays' pitching coach Bill Hickey. Sox seem like they have Kazmir on the ropes, can they make him pay? No. Konerko pops out to short left. Sox have stranded five through two innings but Kazmir is laboring. Will Sox deliver the knockout in the next couple innings? Can they get that big hit with runners on that so often eludes them? SOX LEAD 2-0.
Bottom of the 2nd - Lead-off single by Aybar. Baldelli lines out to Ramirez who then tries to nail Aybar at first for a double play. No go. Aybar is given two bases when Alexei fires it into Tampa's dugout. Navarro then singles to right to make it 2-1. Perez gets a seeing-eye single to left to put runners on 1st and 2nd. I'm beginning to feel ill but Bartlett grounds into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat. SOX LEAD 2-1.
Top of the 3rd - Real awful inning for the Sox as they're retired in order, failing to have good at-bats and easing up on Kazmir in the process. Here come the nerves. SOX LEAD 2-1.
Bottom of the 3rd - Buehrle looking sharp. Sends the Rays down 1-2-3. Sox need to get the offense going again. SOX LEAD 2-1.
Top of the 4th - Stranded! With 2 outs, Cabrera and Swisher single but Dye grounds out to end the inning. That's 7 stranded runners through 4 innings. Kazmir is now up over 80 pitches but the Sox can't get the big hit. SOX LEAD 2-1.
Bottom of the 4th - Buehrle pitches around a one-out Aybar double. I feel confident with him on the mound but the Sox must tally a few more runs here. SOX LEAD 2-1.
Top of the 5th - Let's make that 8 stranded! A two-out single by Ramirez goes for not when Pierzynski grounds into a fielder's choice to end the inning. Without a home run, you just feel like this is a game the Sox will find a way to lose. SOX LEAD 2-1.
Bottom of the 5th - The Rays get the hit the Sox need. Iwamura goes yard for a two-run shot to put Tampa up 3-2. Buehrle ends the inning without allowing any more damage but the Sox offense must get going now. RAYS LEAD 3-2.
Top of the 6th - Uribe leads things off with a single to center and is then bunted over to second by Anderson. That'll do it for Kazmir who finishes just shy of 100 pitches in 5 1/3 innings. In comes Balfour and up steps Cabrera. Here we go. Cabrera grounds out to Iwamura as Uribe makes it to third. Swisher steps in after reaching base in his first three trips but flies out to left. The Sox have now stranded 9 runners! This is painful. It's been right there for them in this game and they just can't grab it. RAYS LEAD 3-2.
Bottom of the 6th - Buehrle gets through the inning with Longoria stranded on 2nd. He's pitched well but I wonder how long Guillen will stick with him being that this game is nearly do-or-die. RAYS LEAD 3-2.
Top of the 7th - Anybody else really starting to hate Balfour? Luckily the Sox get to him a little this time. Dye and Konerko lead things off with consecutive singles prompting Maddon to call to the pen for Howell. Another golden opportunity awaits the Sox and Thome. Thome flies out to center, Ramirez lines out and Pierzynski weakly grounds to first. Unbelievable! You wonder how this team got to this point with such a lack of clutch hitting. That's 11 stranded runners through 7! RAYS LEAD 3-2.
Bottom of the 7th - Buehrle is great. He retires the Rays in order. It's time the White Sox offense rewarded him. Enough already. RAYS LEAD 3-2.
Top of the 8th - Just brutal. The Sox strand their 12th runner on the evening when Swisher takes a called 3rd strike. Yes, there have been some questionable strike calls by Buckner behind home plate but this is all on the Sox bats. Brian Anderson, I never want to see you hit again. You're terrible. RAYS LEAD 3-2.
Bottom of the 8th - Surprised to see Buehrle back out there again, maybe Upton is too - triple to deep center. Crawford follows with a single to left to make it 4-2 and so long Buehrle. Dotel comes in and gets the next two hitters but with Crawford on 3rd, Baldelli comes up with a single to center. Ozzie now calls for Thornton with the game 5-2 and pretty much over. The Rays took advantage of almost all their opportunities while the Sox did just about the least they could with what they had on the basepaths. Terribly disappointing ballgame. Navarro bloops a single in between Anderson, Dye and Ramirez and Baldelli comes around to score. What the hell was that? Perez grounds out to end it. Sox have three outs left before they go home with their tail between their legs. RAYS LEAD 6-2.
Top of the 9th - Bradford in to pitch. Dye reaches on what should have been scored an error and then Konerko grounds into a double play. Thome looks at strike three to end it. This is what happens when the White Sox don't hit home runs - ugly losses. Game 3 is Sunday as Danks faces Garza. Let's hope the Sox can make it interesting. They probably can't hit any worse than they did tonight. RAYS WIN 6-2.
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