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Message #: 32615
Message from: Shane Parendo
Sent: May 8, 2015
Subject: ALDS (other one) games 1-3

In a very hardfought series (all games were decided by at most two runs), Chicago got a few more of the breaks to win the series.

Game files attached, and a (longish) writeup of each game below.

Shane

Game 1: The divisional series between the White Sox and Red Sox was a well-fought series, with each game being decided by two runs or fewer. In the first game of the series, the Red Sox jumped out to a quick lead; Lee Tinsley laced a one out single to center field and Mo Vaughn followed that up with a two out single of his own. Jose Canseco brought them all home with a three-run home run. The Red Sox added a run to their lead in the top of the second, with a Lee Tinsley two out double plating John Valentin, who had doubled immediately preceeding Tinsley.

In the bottom of the second inning, Frank Thomas put the White Sox on the board with a leadoff home run. Both offenses went quiet until the bottom of the fourth inning. Harold Baines and Frank Thomas walked to lead off the fourth, and that was followed by a Jim Eisenreich three-run home run to tie the game at 4. In the next at bat, Robin Ventura broke the tie by hitting another White Sox home run. The White Sox added an insurance run in the fifth inning, utilizing two leadoff singles, a groundout to move the runners up, and a passed ball to plate the sixth run of the game. Both teams managed a few threats to score in the later innings, but no runs successfully crossed the plate. Alex Fernandez picked up the win, throwing 6.1 innings, giving up 8 hits, 4 earned runs, no walks and striking out 6. Ron Rightnowar and Chad Ogea earned saves, and Steve Reed piked up the save, striking out two in the ninth. Tim Wakefield was saddled with the loss, pitching six innings and giving up ten hits, two walks and five earned runs.

Game 2: In this game, it was the White Sox' turn to leap to an early lead. After Orel Hershiser pitched a scoreless top of the first, Jose Offerman led off the bottom of the first against Roger Clemens with a single. That was followed by a double by Dave Martinez and a three-run home rum by Harold Baines. After a strikeout, the White Sox threatened again with a double and a walk, but Clemens induced Tim Raines to hit into a double play.

Over the next three innings, the outs came rapidly with no team having more than one batter reach base safely. In the fifth inning, Hershiser was a little shaky after recording two outs; two singles and a HBP loaded the bases, but Hershiser was able to strike out Lee Tinsley to end the threat, temporarily preserving the shutout. Hershiser was not as lucky in the sixth, when he gave up two singles to Tim O'Leary and Mo Vaughn to lead off the inning. A sacrifice fly by Mike Greenwell brought O'Leary home with two outs. Hershiser's seventh inning started off even more shaky; Jorge Fabregas hit a leadoff home run to shave the White Sox' lead to 3-2.

The White Sox scored an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh, taking advantage of a wild pitch and a passed ball after a Jose Offerman one out single and a groundball advanced him to second base. Hershiser gave way to Chad Ojea in the eighth and Steve Reed in the ninth to preserve the 4-2 White Sox win. Hershiser allowed eight hits and no walks in his seven innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out eight. Ojea and Reed both pitched one inning giving up one hit and earning their second hold and save of the series, respectively. Roger Clemens picked up the loss, giving up nine hits and two walks in eight innings, striking out 8 while allowing four runs, three of which were earned.

Game 3: The series moved to Fenway Park, and the Red Sox were hopeful that their fortunes would change. For the first two innings, the game was a pitcher's duel. In the top of the third, the White Sox caught up with Zane Smith. Harold Baines and Scott Hemond led off with singles. An error by Mo Vaughn let Dave Martinez safely reach first. Jose Offerman singled scoring a run and Ray Durham plated another run on a fielder's choice. Frank Thomas then broke the inning open with a three run home run, his second home run of the series. There were no major threats until the sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Jeff Frye hit a one out double, to be immediately brought home on a Tim Naehring home run, narrowing the White Sox lead to 5-2.
The White Sox scored two insurance runs in the top of the eighth, after Frank Thomas hit a two-out double and Danny Tartabull followed that up with a home run. Those insurance runs proved invaluable as the Red Sox mounted a rally in the bottom of the eighth. After a leadoff double by Jeff Valentin chased Alvarez from the game, Chad Ojea proceeded to retire Jeff Frye on a groundout. Naehring singled, scoring Valentin and Vaughn walked, bringing Jose Canseco to the plate, who promptly deposited a ball above the green monster, and bringing the Red Sox to within one run, 7-6. The White Sox managed to get out of the eighth with no more damage. Steve Reed was brought in to close the game in the ninth inning and was able to hold the Red Sox to just one runner who reached on an error with two outs already recorded in the inning.

The win was earned by Wilson Alvarez, who pitched seven innings, giving up three earned runs. The loss goes to Zane Smith, who gave up six earned runs over eight innings. Steve Reed earned his third save of the series.

Series MVP goes to Frank Thomas who hit .500 in the series with two home runs and four RBI.


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