White Sox Run Into Lack of Runs for Sale

April 18, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

No offense, but fans of high-scoring games probably didn’t like the Chicago White Sox-Boston Red Sox game Thursday at U.S. Cellular Field. White Sox left-hander Chris Sale took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester took a perfect game into the sixth. The only hit Sale allowed in seven innings (10 strikeouts, 127 pitches) was a home run to Xavier Bogaerts. If you’re a White Sox fan, the best thing you probably can say is at least Sale didn’t take the loss (which was the result of two ninth-inning runs in a 3-1 decision).

Thanks to Abigail Ratchford, a Dwyane Wade jersey never looked better.

* On the bright side for the White Sox, they didn’t need to resort to having a position player pitch the way they did Wednesday.

* Also on the bright side for the White Sox, shortstop Alexei Ramirez singled in the ninth inning to extend his season-opening hitting streak to 16 games, thereby setting a franchise record (which he had shared with Frank Thomas). And, yes, maybe we need to redefine “bright.”

* Jabari Parker, who played high school basketball at Chicago Simeon and one year of college ball at Duke, said he will enter the NBA draft. “I’m very fortunate to have worn the [Duke] blue and white,” Parker (or someone) wrote in an essay for Sports Illustrated. More fortunate that it was for only his freshman year.

* LeBron James is king of NBA jersey sales at NBAStore.com for the 2013-14 season. No surprise. What is surprising is Bulls guard Derrick Rose — who has not played since a season-ending knee injury in November — finished fourth. The list: 1. LeBron James,Heat; 2. Kevin Durant, Thunder; 3. Kobe Bryant, Lakers; 4. Derrick Rose, Bulls; 5. Stephen Curry, Warriors; 6. Carmelo Anthony, Knicks; 7. Dwyane Wade, Heat; 8. Chris Paul, Clippers; 9. Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers; 10. James Harden, Rockets; 11. Blake Griffin, Clippers; 12. Russell Westbrook, Thunder; 13. Rajon Rondo, Celtics; 14. Tim Duncan, Spurs; 15. Paul George, Pacers.

* The Chicago Blackhawks began their Stanley Cup defense with a 4-3, triple-overtime loss to the Blues in St. Louis. I know this only because all the baseball for the evening was over — and the contest lasted so long. The apparent highlight from a Hawks fan’s perspective seems to be coach Joel Quenneville grabbing his crotch during the contest.

* On the bright (?) side for the Hawks, the third overtime ended quickly (26 seconds into the session), so folks have to stay up till midnight or later. Only till about 11:35 p.m. or so. OK, so that’s not very bright. But as this content is being ~~crafted~~ typed, it is late at night. Actually, early in the morning.

* Ex-Cub of the day: LaTroy Hawkins recorded his fourth save of the season for the Colorado Rockies by pitching a scoreless ninth inning in a 3-1 decision against the host San Diego Padres. Yes, Hawkins received this highly coveted honor a few days ago. But he merits an encore. He did allow one hit. Which makes throwing five pitches (four for strikes) in his effort even more remarkable. After allowing a leadoff single, he ended the game by starting a pitcher-to-shortstop-to-first double play.

***

Here is where to go for a daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the endless efforts of the editorial and video departments at ElliottHarris.com):