Tale of the Tape: White Sox 14, Red Sox 2

Here at Sox On 35^th, we will be continuing our game recaps this offseason with a throwback to the 2005 Playoffs. Each day that, 14 years ago, the White Sox had a playoff game, we will recap it for you! Make sure to vote for Player of the Game every game, so that we can determine who you, the fans, thought were the MVPs of the 2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox! Now, let’s take this journey back to October 4, 2005…….

The White Sox got their first taste of postseason action for the first time since 2001 today, taking on the defending World Series champions at U.S. Cellular Field. As a team that boasts one of the most talented pitching staffs in recent White Sox memory, it was the bats that carried the game today, as the White Sox pounded the Red Sox 14-2 to take Game 1 of the 2005 ALDS.

W: Jose Contreras (1-0) L: Matt Clement (0-1)

The Good

• Jose Contreras: 7.2 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 8 Swinging Strikes

• Scott Podsednik: 2-for-3, BB, SB (1), HR (1), 3 RBI

• A.J. Pierzynski: 3-for-4, 2 HR (2), 4 RBI

• Paul Konerko: 1-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI

• Juan Uribe: 2-for-4, K, HR (1), 3 RBI

The Bad

• Tadahito Iguchi: 0-for-3, K

• Jermaine Dye: 0-for-3

• Joe Crede: 0-for-3, BB

Moment of the Game

Playoff baseball is made for big moments. A player hitting their first home run of the season in the first playoff game? Yeah, that’s a big moment.

Stats On 35^th: Let’s Break this one down By the Numbers

Today’s Numbers:

18.4/-2.3, 1, 380, 1993, 10

18.4/-2.3

Today’s MVP and LVP, in terms of Win Probability Added (WPA) are A.J. Pierzynski (18.4%) and Tadahito Iguchi (-2.3%). Pierzynski is the obvious answer here, adding two homers and four RBIs to the team’s winning effort. Iguchi, on the other hand, was largely a non-factor today, but there is plenty of time for him to change that around this series!

1

The White Sox used the unusually warm October weather to their advantage today, hammering five home runs into the packed U.S. Cellular Field stands. The White Sox performed this same feat just one other time this season in a 10-7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. In this May 7, 2005, matchup, Paul Konerko (2), Aaron Rowand, Juan Uribe, and Tadahito Iguchi all went yard.

380

Scott Podsednik certainly had a busy day on the bases. He homered, stole a base, got caught stealing, and was hit by a pitch all in the same game. He is the first player to do these four things in the same game since Melvin Mora, who did the same thing 380 days ago on September 20, 2004, against – you guessed it – the Boston Red Sox.

1993

Today was certainly an important day for the White Sox organization. Today’s victory was their first playoff win since 1993 against the eventual World Series champion Toronto Blue Jays. Hopefully this isn’t the last playoff win we see in the next 12 years!

10

With the win today, the White Sox move just 10 wins away from capturing their first World Series championship in 88 years. Will they survive the Beasts of the East and move to the ALCS?

The Game Ahead: The Good Guys go for the 2-0 Series Lead

• Mark Buehrle (2005: 16-8, 3.37 ERA) vs. David Wells (2005: 15-7, 4.45 ERA), 6:10 PM CT

Player of the Game

Plenty of good ones to choose from in game 1! One down, ten wins to go!