The White Sox were able to avoid their first sweep to begin a season since 2003 Thursday, defeating the Cleveland Indians 4-3. The news was not all good for the South Siders, however, as starter Mark Buehrle left the game in the second inning after taking a liner off his pitching hand.
“Mark suffered a contusion, and will probably only miss one start,” Sox GM Kenny Williams said. “Of course, any injury, no matter how insignificant, greatly drives down a pitcher’s value when negotiating a contract. Mark needs to be aware of that.”
The Sox were able to send their fans home happy with a ninth inning rally. Cleveland reliever Roberto Hernandez, still hung-over from celebrating his 96th birthday the night before, committed a throwing error before walking the bases loaded and hitting catcher A.J. Pierzynski to force in the winning run. Although the shameless Pierzynski appeared to lean into the pitch, Hernandez is taking credit for plunking the player.
“Anytime you have the chance to hit A.J., you have to take it,” said Hernandez. “I haven’t met a prick that big since I roomed with Ty Cobb my rookie year.”
Number of the Day: 32
The number of times in the final two minutes of the WGN broadcast that Ken “Hawk” Harrelson called A.J. Pierzynski a “gamer” for getting hit on his elbow protector with a slow curveball.
