One look at Jose Contreras' line, and it might seem like he was lucky to get out of the game with a quality start, much less unscored upon. Six walks and four hits in 6 2/3 innings is more baserunners than the Count can usually handle.
Today, however, he didn't care about the basepaths. He instead devoted his focus on throwing pitches that the Indians couldn't hit. He nibbled at times, and while he lost a few batters via the base on balls (including three in one inning), they didn't make him pay because they couldn't make solid contact most of the game. They only had once chance for an extra-base hit when Asdrubal Cabreras smoked one down the right field line. Darin Erstad played the short hop off the wall perfectly, though, set his feet and made a gorgeous throw to nail Cabrera at second.
Cleveland only truly threatened once -- in the fourth inning, when a Kenny Lofton infield single off Contreras' glove loaded the bases. He got a first-pitch double play from Trot Nixon to quickly kill the rally.
To cap off his charmed day, the offense gave him plenty of run support -- a 5-0 lead before he left the game, and three after. And what's remarkable is that they should've scored more:
*They had three base hits in the first inning, but didn't score. Jerry Owens was caught stealing after a questionable call on a pitchout.
*Juan Uribe struck out twice with the bases loaded -- and looked godawful doing so.
*Andy Gonzalez was thrown out stealing quite easily by Victor Martinez on a strike-him-out-throw-him-out.
Still, the Sox maintained an approach far superior to
the last time they faced Jake Westbrook, taking their singles from the sinkerballer instead of trying to jerk everything into the stands. They chased him with 11 hits over five innings, and didn't even stop when relievers came into the game.
Everybody got into the act. Owens reached base five times out of the leadoff spot, walking twice without taking the bat off his shoulder. One of those free passes forced in a run. A.J. Pierzynski snapped an 0-for-18 skid with a four-hit day. Jim Thome had a key two-out flare single that scored two runs. Danny Richar climbed over the Mendoza Line with a two hits. Erstad hit his third homer of the year.
Even Uribe came through a couple times -- he struck out thrice, but also had two singles up the middle and scored when he reached base.
The bullpen didn't blow this 5-0 lead. Boone Logan got into a little trouble in the eighth when he gave up a single and a walk with only one out, but Ehren Wassermann entered the game and got a double play. Bobby Jenks' streak of 11 consecutive batters was broken when Paul Konerko failed to snag Trot Nixon's hard grounder for an error.
Record: 58-79 |
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