|
|
|
|
 |
|
Scores Schedules Standings Statistics Transactions Injuries: AL | NL Players Weekly Lineup Message Board Minor Leagues MLB Stat Search Clubhouses |
| Sport Sections |
|
|
| |
Friday, Aug. 18 8:05pm ET
Valentin sets club record with 21st homer | |||||
|
| ||||||
|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
CHICAGO (AP) -- Rookie Jon Garland was lucky. The Chicago White Sox were luckier. Garland survived a line drive that struck his right arm near his elbow to win for the first time in four starts Friday night, leading the White Sox to a 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The White Sox, who have been relying on rookie starters, signed just-released veteran Ken Hill on Friday to bolster their rotation. With Cal Eldred still sidelined indefinitely and James Baldwin resting a tired arm, Chicago could not afford to lose another starter. "It's just a bruise, basically on the forearm near the elbow but not the elbow," manager Jerry Manuel said. "Obviously, the way he reacted was scary to see. A lot of things went through his head, like shock." Garland (3-4) was struck in the sixth inning by Fred McGriff's line drive and fell to the ground immediately, clutching his arm. X-rays were negative and the team said he sustained a bruise. His status was day-to-day and team officials said they would have a better idea Saturday whether Garland would make his next start. "He was rolling like he was shot," catcher Mark Johnson said. "He got lucky." Trainer Herm Schneider said Garland apparently turned just enough so he didn't take a direct hit on his forearm, avoiding a broken arm that would've sidelined him the rest of the season. "I looked and wasn't sure if he broke something, but they said it's just a bruise," McGriff said. "The guy's got a lot of talent, so hopefully he can continue to pitch." Garland gave up one run on a solo homer by Gerald Williams, four hits and one walk in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four. Jose Valentin and Chris Singleton each hit two-run homers and Carlos Lee added a solo shot for the White Sox, who won for the fifth time in eight games. Valentin set a club record for homers by a shortstop, hitting his 21st in the first inning to break the old mark of 20 set in 1964 by Ron Hansen. Singleton hit his ninth homer in the fifth, and both blasts came after failed bunt attempts. "When you're getting 20 homers from your shortstop, you can't help but have a good year as a team," McGriff said. "Jose's home run was huge. Things are just going right for them." Lee led off the bottom of the seventh with his 21st home run. "Ball's juiced, bat's juiced, fans are juiced," said loser Bryan Rekar (4-8), a native of Oak Lawn, Ill., a Chicago suburb, who had about 70 family and friends on hand. Rekar gave up five runs on eight hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out four. "I hate losing, no matter what," Rekar said. "But I grew up a Cubs fan. I never cared for the Sox, so I am always disappointed losing to them." Chicago's Mark Buehrle pitched one inning of relief, Bob Howry went 1 1/3 innings and Keith Foulke worked the ninth for his 22nd save in 26 opportunities. Valentin hit his second homer in as many days in the first. Ray Durham singled leading off and Valentin, who bunted foul twice, then hit a 1-2 pitch from Rekar out. Lee doubled leading off Chicago's fifth and Singleton showed bunt on the first pitch, then drove the next one over the center-field wall. Williams hit the first pitch from Garland leading off the sixth for his 19th home run to make it 4-1. Pinch-hitter Russ Johnson hit a run-scoring single in the Devil Rays seventh to cut it to 4-2. Game notesValentin has hit in eight consecutive games. He is closing in on his career high of 24 home runs, set in 1996 with Milwaukee. ... Singleton's homer was his first since July 27. ... Williams, whose previous career home run high was 17 last year, also homered off Garland last Sunday in Tampa Bay. ... Devil Rays first base coach Jose Cardenal was ejected in the sixth by second base umpire Brian Runge after arguing a play at first. "Jose was standing there listening to me argue," Devil Rays manager Larry Rothschild said. "I guess you're not supposed to listen." ... The game Friday marked Tampa Bay's first visit to Comiskey Park since June 16, 1999. Only nine current Devil Rays made that trip. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Tampa Bay Clubhouse Chi. White Sox Clubhouse RECAPS Boston 6 Texas 4
Chi. White Sox 5
| |||||