Heading to Anaheim for Friday's game with the Angels, the White Sox had to be somewhat confident. With the 'lucky' win under their belt in Game 2, the Sox had Jon Garland going in Game 3 and Freddy Garcia going in Game 4. Including Mark Buerhle's performance in Game 2, what has happened over the past three games of the ALCS is nothing less than spectacular and hasn't happened in the playoffs in over 30 years.
On Friday night, Garland scattered four hits and threw a complete game stifling the Angels. On Saturday night, Garcia was a machine going all nine innings and giving up just two runs on six hits. Tack on Mark Buerhle's five hitter in Game 2 on Wednesday and you have three complete games. Not since the 1973 Mets has a team had three straight complete games by their starting pitchers in the postseason.
On Friday night, Jermaine Dye doubled to score Scott Podsednik then Paul Konerko hit a two run homer to give Garland a three run lead in the first inning. Garland would say with that lead he went to the mound much more relaxed. The Angels Orlando Cabrera hit a two run homer in the sixth but that was all the Halo's got in a Sox 5-2 victory.
Konerko's two run homer in the first inning of Game 3 gave the Sox a big lift.
On Saturday night, again in the first inning, Podsednik walked and second baseman Tadahito Iguchi was hit by a pitch. Konerko again stepped to the plate and hit a three run homer to givethe Sox the early lead they covet, especially on the road, and strolled to an 8-2 victory over the Angels.
Garcia's six hit, complete game has given the Sox a 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 series.
In Game's 2, 3 and 4 Buerhle, Garland and Garcia have given up 15 hits and 5 runs. Going into this series with the Angels, every Sox fan was hoping for a chance to see Bobby Jenx with his 99-mph fastball and untouchable slider. Jenx and the rest of the bullpen (Hermanson, Cotts, Marte, etc) have been sitting on their hands in awe of what Buerhle, Garland, Garcia and even Jose Contreras (three runs on seven hits in Game 1) have been able to do.
What has happened to Vladimir Guererro by the way? He has one hit in 12 at-bats and that one hit was an infield single that ricocheted off Jon Garland's foot Friday in Game 3. Not that anybody in the Angels lineup is ripping the cover off the ball, but you'd like to expect your All-Everything outfielder to make some sort of contribution.
On Sunday, Jose Contreras takes the mound for the Sox with the World Series on the line. The bullpen is relaxed and healthy. Paul Konerko is batting .285 (8-for-28) with four home runs and 10 RBI in the playoffs and Scott Podnedsik is finally back to doing what he does best; getting on base, stealing second and scoring. The White Sox are sitting pretty and have the Fall Classic in their sights.
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