caulfield12

The big blow happened at 10:49 or 10:50 CST. I'd just gotten so frustrated with Rollins, Robertson and Sands that I decided to go to lunch at KFC and follow the game on my mobile phone. All I was thinking was...don't hit into a home to first double play...and then the little green dot on the screen kept carrying out to LF down the line and I saw the 8 spot come up on the board and knew that we'd finally crushed the spirit of the Rangers. Hanging slider on the outside and low part of the plate. The most excited I've been about White Sox baseball since the 2005/06 teams and 2008 before Quentin got hurt. This team just has a resiliency that we haven't seen from past teams that would give up and get down on themselves after essentially two blown saves in a row, missed bunts/poor execution, terrible defense from Sands in LF and even a rare ball in RF on Odor's triple that Eaton got turned around on. Some great at-bats by guys at the bottom of the order tonight. Jackson's safety squeeze was a thing of beauty and made the Rangers look foolish. Jennings somehow escaped that 1st and 3rd, one out situation with the play of the game...rare double play ball with the infield drawn in (especially on that rock hard Texas infield). White Sox now 22-1 in starts by Sale/Quintana/Latos/Gonzalez. Up 6 games on the Indians, 7 games on the Royals and 8 games on the Tigers. Baseball is fun again. The best part of the game is we learned that Jerry Sands doesn't belong on the roster, that Rollins needs to spend more time on the bench or at least be moved down in the order, that Robertson isn't quite "elite/elite" despite his peripherals and that Jennings can get out of a tough situation. Also, more impressive work from Matt Albers. He's been unexpectedly great, like Putnam a couple of years ago...with the key difference being these games are all important ones.

Barnette and Ramos both throwing with Danks-like velocity...but effective.

There's a shocking development. Maybe the White Sox actually will win this game... Cesar Ramos now into the game for the Rangers.

GREAT... Well, the only thing to be said is it's nice to be really upset about a White Sox game for the first time maybe since 2012.

Freaking walks when pitchers are up in the count are killing them tonight. Geez. You'd think Fielder was on a tear like Odor, Beltre and Mazara coming into this game the way they're treating him.

Guess we had exams at my school at that time...but thanks for everyone clarifying that we've already played the Rangers, haha.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ May 9, 2016 -> 09:07 PM) Tie game going into extras. 2nd time this year & both the Rangers. This is the first time we've played them this year...

Well, if we're going to blow through our entire bullpen, we might as well win it. Something about Rodon and Latos facing this line-up the next two games screams call to the pen early.

Demoralizing. Man, this potential loss is going to take awhile to get over.

You just can't do that when you have him down 0-2 in the count to start. Hawk's going to have a heart attack before this one is over.

Andrus, Wilson and DeShields...7-9 hitters for the Rangers coming up.

Chance to atone for Rollins here...those runs would help everyone breathe a lot easier.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have yourself a game, Austin Jackson. Finally showing how it's done with the bunting game. Must have learned it in the Yankees' organization or Detroit.

Huge opportunity here for Austin Jackson...just need to avoid DP ball and K.

Miguel Gonzalez with a slightly demoralizing no decision...c'mon offense. Character test here. Rangers counter with their closer, Tolleson. Sucks to see the entire complexion of this series and road trip change so quickly...two defensive plays that are normally made by Eaton and any ordinary LFer. Then we have the growing concern about Rollins at SS, at least offensively.

Dammit, Cabrera....unfortunately, 2 blown saves now for Robertson, although this one is more on Sands. The other one was on a Navarro throw. Obviously have to get the third out here and hope for the best.

And it backfires. Uh-oh.

Ventura's really managing with a sense of urgency this year. Nice to see. You definitely can't burn Albers out trying to use him for two innings because you don't trust Nate Jones 100%.

Can't watch this at-bat against Beltre.

Need better than a 94 MPH fastball there from Jones against their hottest hitter...get out of this inning up 3-2, everything's still looking good.

That FlavaFraz nickname really needs to be retired before it gets started by anyone else...

That's why we needed you to stay in the game, Melky. We're down in the LH bat category. Great job by Frazier though, picking up both Rollins and Abreu and salvaging at least one run. Not getting anything there would have been a huge momentum shift in the game.

Abreu now just 9 for 38 with RISP. Need better from our best hitter.

White Sox could not have tried any harder to help the Rangers escape this inning. Evan Grant Tigers lose in the bottom of the 9th at Washington, now 3 games under .500 and absolutely reeling.

Terrible...the lost art of sacrifice bunting, hard to do against a fastball pitcher. And Rollins was 5 for 9 against LHP this year. Oh, well.