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Danks Puts End To Dreams Of A Sweep

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 6, 2008

Star Of The Game: John Danks, White Sox Starter

Big-game John Danks, the White Sox's left-handed starter, lived up to his billing in Sunday's 5-3 victory against Tampa Bay. The Rays collected four hits - and five base runners - in the first two innings, but only had a 1-0 lead to show for it. Danks, who defeated the Twins to win a one-game playoff for the American League Central title Tuesday, hit his rhythm in the middle innings. From the third through the sixth inning, Danks permitted only two base runners as the White Sox built their lead. Danks passed the 100-pitch mark in the seventh inning, when he allowed a two-run homer to B.J. Upton, but Chicago was in command.

Key Decision

The White Sox are more of a station-to-station team on the base paths. But in the fourth inning, they essentially took an extra base on a tactical error by Upton in center field - and it proved costly. With the bases loaded and none out against Tampa Bay pitcher Matt Garza, Chicago's Alexei Ramirez lifted a fly ball to fairly deep center field. Jim Thome scored easily, and Paul Konerko trotted to third (Thome? Konerko? Those names alone should indicate how deep the ball was hit). But Upton threw to third anyway, hitting cut-off man Jason Bartlett. The throw should have gone to second, though. It didn't, and Ken Griffey Jr., whose fleet-footed days are behind him, took second on the sacrifice fly. "I think Griffey cheated," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I don't think he went back to the bag to tag up." Whatever. From second, Griffey got home easily on Dewayne Wise's double.

Play Of The Game

Wise, who hit a three-run homer in Game 1, also had the big blow in Sunday's game. With one out in the fourth, he picked on the first pitch from Garza, taking it the other way to left field for a two-run double and a 4-1 lead. "Wise hit a good pitch," Garza said. "I threw it away, and he poked it over Evan Longoria's head. If he hits it on the ground, we're maybe looking at a 3-3 game. That's just baseball."

Quirky Play

In the early innings, there was a rather stubborn pigeon on the infield at U.S. Cellular Field. The pigeon was spotted fluttering behind the mound as Danks delivered his pitch. The pigeon landed down the first-base line, then down the third-base line (getting a nice bird's-eye view, perhaps?). Rays catcher Dioner Navarro tried to shoo it away. Garza came off the mound and kicked up some dirt, getting the pigeon to finally fly away. We'll see if there's a return visit today.

Crunching The Numbers

Dome-stadium teams (not counting the retractable-roof buildings) are now 11-28 all-time in outdoor postseason games. Notably, the Metrodome-based Minnesota Twins won the World Series in 1987 and 1991, failing to win away from home each time. Can a parallel be drawn with the Rays, who clearly enjoy Tropicana Field (59-24 at home, including playoffs)? "Tropicana Field has never been a comfortable place for teams to play, but we are used to it and we like it," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "This ballpark U.S. Cellular Field, I think the White Sox are built for it. Both teams are possibly tailored for their ballparks. It's no more deep than that."

Critical Moment

Danks was chased in the seventh after Upton's two-run homer and a single by Carlos Pena. With two outs and the tying run at the plate, White Sox reliever Octavio Dotel got Longoria on a called strike three. "It goes back to being a clutch player and wanting to be in that moment," Longoria said. "It didn't happen this time. I hope I get the same opportunity tomorrow."

Our Take

Three-game sweep for the Rays? Fans might have been thinking that after two steamrolling performances at Tropicana Field. Sunday night provided a dose of reality. The White Sox aren't going away easily. It shows you the importance of taking care of business at home (better to be up 2-1 than down 1-2 with another game in Chicago). The Rays have the security blanket of a potential Game 5 at home on Wednesday night, but that's not the way you operate in a short series. The Rays must go for the jugular tonight, and that will keep the pitching rotation (James Shields in Game 1) in order for the potential AL Championship Series.

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