What’s Up with the Chicago White Sox?
While the Cincinnati Reds and the San Francisco Giants are running neck to neck in the National Baseball League, with the Reds one game and one win ahead of the Giants, American League Baseball team, Chicago White Sox, is taking the All Star games by storm. After a five game winning streak, that included beating out the Texas Rangers in a ferocious ten-inning game, they lost for the first time, against the Toronto Blue Jays, but not without a battle.
That’s what the White Sox are all about; battling it out to the very end. Pitcher Phillip Humber, with a win-loss record of 14 – 14, and 214 strikeouts under his belt, had to sit it out with right elbow flexor strain, while rookie, Dylan Axelrod took his place. Axelrod allowed three two-run home runs in the Blue Jays game, and could be retired to the bullpen as early as July 17 if Perfect 21 game Humber returns to the plate.
The White Sox have a lot of rookies in the line-up this year, but they are all putting out the blood and guts that give the team its winning spirit. Rookie Hector Santiago pitched three innings of one-hit ball and allowed the Sox to bring the winning run to the plate in the seventh and ninth innings.
And how about Kevin Youkilis? The veteran player, traded in by the Boston Red Sox last year, is feeling right at home with the White Sox. After his third game winning hit in twelve games with his new team, including socking it home in the ten inning match against the Rangers, fans are going wild, shouting “Youk” with his every appearance. He’s stoic. He’s controlled. He’s grinding and he’s continuous. The Boston Red Sox might be feeling a bit regretful for losing him, because Youkilis is out there, killing them dead.
According to the White Sox, the single game loss of the season only proves they have their work cut out for them. There are challenges ahead, but it’s going to take one terrific battle to bring this formidable team down, because they just don’t know what it means to give up.
Categorized in: MLB