2007 State of the Sox

September 21: White Sox 6, Twins 4

It took long enough, but the White Sox finally got their one win off Johan Santana this year.

Josh Fields took a 1-2 slider well over the center field fence as the second hitter of the game, but Santana seemed to settle down as Twins hitters caught up to Mark Buehrle to take a 3-1 lead.  Basically, it looked like every other Santana start.

That third inning could've been worse for Buehrle, although maybe with an above-average left fielder Buehrle would've seen less damage.  They ran Fields ragged in the outfield, including one misplay of Torii Hunter's double that put runners on second and third with one out.  They both would score, on a sacrifice fly and a double by Mike Cuddyer.

That put Buehrle in a 3-1 hole, and with Santana on the mound, it seemed like his quest for win No. 10 would stall once again.

Jim Thome made sure that wouldn't happen.  He led off the fourth with a doubled, advanced to third on Paul Konerko's productive out and scored on Jermaine Dye's roped double down the left field line.

Thome then put the Sox ahead with a three-run shot, started with two outs by Jerry Owens, who flared a single to left.  Fields walked, and Thome took Santana the opposite way to give the Sox a lead.

Fields also added another homer, and only a leaping Lew Ford kept Thome from joining Fields in the two-homer club.

Buehrle, meanwhile, preserved the lead, though he survived a scare when Nick Punto tripled home a run.  Fortunately, the Twins tried a little too hard to piranha their way back into the ballgame -- with two outs, Alexi Casilla bunted, and Toby Hall had an easy play.

Record: 67-87 | Box score | Play-by-play