The wrong direction streak continues. We lost our third in a row to the Chicago White Sox this afternoon, 5-4. We’re now 8-11-1 in spring training. It’s about now when we start hearing that it doesn’t really matter – but let’s face it. Who wants to have a losing record in spring training – really?
The big catalyst for the Sox today was former Ranger farmhand Scott Podsednik. Pod went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Gustavo Molina (is he related to the other three?) also teamed with Pod going 2 for 3 with 2 RBI’s as well. Between the two of them they covered just about all the “important” offense for the White Sox.
Three of those runs were against Kevin Milwood, who gave ’em up in 4.1 innings. The other two were against Fabio Castro, who finally melts down and gives up some runs. Francisco Cordero and Akinori Otsuka also pitched, but didn’t give up any runs. Combined, our staff went 9IP, giving up 13 hits, 5ER, 6K, & 3BB. 2 to 1 walk ratio isn’t bad, but I’d prefer less walks still. Zero would be nice. :)
Offensively, we had three solo home runs. One each by Kevin Mench (his fifth), Ian Kinsler (fourth), & Mark DeRosa (his first). Botts went 2 for 4, and Blalock & Young both went 2 for 3, so our offense was a little more “bunched”.
Hey guys – weekend TV games coming up! There’s one on Sunday afternoon, and then Monday night, there’s a half our “2006 Season preview”, as well as a half hour Rangers pregame show, and then a game on TV with Josh & Tom – so get ready. :)
ST20: Mar 23, 2006 vs. White Sox (L: 5-4)
8-11-1 (.421) – 9th – 5 Dn – Streak L3
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Game Recap
SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Scott Podsednik went 3-for-4, scored two runs and drove in another Thursday to help the Chicago White Sox beat the Texas Rangers 5-4.
Podsednik, who came to the White Sox in a four-player deal that sent Carlos Lee to the Milwaukee Brewers before last season, showed how explosive he can be in the leadoff spot.
“I saw him in a couple of minor league games and he looked really good,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “He can do a lot for us. When he gets on base he charges the batteries of everybody.”
Podsednik, who was playing in only his fourth “A” game of the spring, tripled to open the game and scored when Tadahito Iguchi grounded out to second.
The White Sox erased a 2-1 deficit in the fifth, scoring twice with the help of three errors by Rangers third baseman Hank Blalock.
Gustavo Molina walked and went to third on a single to right by Podsednik. Blalock misplayed the throw to the bag, allowing Molina to score as the fleet-footed Podsednik made it to third. Podsednik scored on the next play when Blalock bobbled an Iguchi grounder. One out later, Blalock made his third fielding error to allow Jermaine Dye to reach, sending Rangers starter Kevin Millwood out of the game.
Podsednik and Paul Konerko, who went 2-for-4, had RBI singles in the sixth to help Chicago open up a 5-2 lead. Konerko is 9-for-19 in his last five games.
Javier Lopez pitched the ninth inning to earn his first save of the spring.
Millwood, making his second start of the spring, went 4 1-3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits. He struck out two and walked one.
“I’ve never been a good spring training pitcher because I don’t go out to win ballgames in the spring,” Millwood said. “I still feel I have a bit of a dead arm. The balls weren’t coming out the way I wanted, but it’s the same every spring.”
Millwood has one more scheduled start before pitching on opening day at home against the Boston Red Sox.
“This will be my third opener,” Millwood said. “The first at home. I’m looking forward to that.”
Reliever Akinori Otsuka made his debut with the Rangers, giving up two hits in one scoreless inning. He also struck out two.
Otsuka missed most of camp while he played for Japan in the World Baseball Classic. He was last seen on TV raising his arms in triumph after striking out the final batter to register the save that gave Japan the WBC title.
“He’s been walking around all morning with his chest puffed out,” Rangers manager Buck Showalter said. “Good for him.”
Kevin Mench, Ian Kinsler and Mark DeRosa all homered for Texas.
Molina scored two runs and went 2-for-3 with two walks for the White Sox.
Notes
Rangers RHP Adam Eaton will pitch one or two innings Saturday in a minor league game and then make his final scheduled start of the spring Wednesday against his former team, the San Diego Padres. Eaton will miss his Friday start after being hit by a line drive just below his pitching elbow on Sunday against the Cubs. … OF Gary Matthews continues to be hampered by a rib cage injury and could start the season on the disabled list, according to Showalter. … White Sox starter Javier Vazquez pitched seven innings in a Double-A game, giving up one run on three hits while striking out six and walking two. .. OF Laynce Nix played his first game of the spring in the field for the Rangers.
Box Score
CAC FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - CHI WHITE SOX 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 5 13 0 TEXAS 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 4 11 3 FINAL
WP - BRANDON MCCARTHY (2-2) LP - KEVIN MILLWOOD (0-1) SAVE - JAVIER LOPEZ (1)
HOME RUNS: TEX - KEVIN MENCH (5) OFF HIDEO NOMO IN THE 2ND IAN KINSLER (4) OFF ARMANDO ALMANZA IN THE 3RD MARK DEROSA (1) OFF TIM REDDING IN THE 7TH
TIME: 2:42 ATT: 7,966
CHI WHITE SOX (5) AT TEXAS (4)
CHI WHITE SOX AB R H BI TEXAS AB R H BI S Podsednik lf 4 2 3 1 L Nix cf 3 0 0 0 R Sweeney rf 1 0 0 0 A Brown cf 1 0 0 0 T Iguchi 2b 5 0 1 2 M Young ss 3 0 2 0 P Konerko 1b 4 0 2 1 D Meyer ss 1 0 0 0 J Dye rf 4 0 0 0 G Laird ph 1 0 0 0 C Amador lf 1 0 0 0 M Teixeira 1b 4 0 0 0 A Cintron ss 3 0 0 0 R Eldridge lf 0 0 0 0 R Valido ss 2 0 0 0 P Nevin dh 3 0 1 0 J Crede 3b 4 0 1 0 E Durazo dh 1 0 0 0 A Gonzalez 3b 1 0 0 0 H Blalock 3b 3 0 2 0 R Gload dh 5 0 2 0 A Hyzdu rf 1 1 0 0 B Anderson cf 5 1 2 0 K Mench rf 3 1 1 1 G Molina c 3 2 2 0 D Jimenez 2b 1 0 1 0 J Botts lf 4 0 2 1 R Barajas c 3 0 0 0 J Burke c 1 0 0 0 I Kinsler 2b 2 1 1 1 M Derosa 3b 2 1 1 1 TOTALS 42 5 13 4 TOTALS 37 4 11 4
CHI WHITE SOX 100 022 000 -- 5 TEXAS 011 001 100 -- 4
E--H Blalock. DP--CHI WHITE SOX 1. LOB--CHI WHITE SOX 13, TEXAS 7. 2B--R Gload, G Molina, T Iguchi, J Botts. 3B--S Podsednik. HR--M Derosa 1 (1) (off T Redding), K Mench 1 (5) (off H Nomo), I Kinsler 1 (4) (off A Almanza).
IP H R ER BB SO HR CHI WHITE SOX H Nomo 2 3 1 1 0 0 1 A Almanza 1 3 1 1 0 2 1 B McCarthy (W,2-2) 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 B Logan 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 T Redding 2 2 1 1 0 3 1 J Lopez (S,1) 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 TEXAS K Millwood (L,0-1) 4 1-3 6 3 2 1 2 0 F Castro 2 2-3 4 2 2 0 1 0 F Cordero 1 1 0 0 2 1 0 A Otsuka 1 2 0 0 0 2 0
PB--R Barajas. SO--CHA: J Dye, A Cintron, G Molina, T Iguchi, R Sweeney, R Valido. TEX: A Hyzdu, E Durazo, P Nevin, K Mench, G Laird, M Teixeira, L Nix, J Botts, I Kinsler. BB--CHA: G Molina 2, P Konerko. TEX: A Brown. T--2:42. A--7,966.