Game #12 - Yankees 5, White Sox 1

Tonight was not a good night. Due to the Sox's victory last night coupled with Minnesota's current slide, the Sox entered tonight with a 2.5 game lead, with 12 to play. While I was excited with the increased lead, I was apprehensive. The Sox were facing Phil Hughes, a "phenom" with an 0-4 record and 9.00 ERA, which usually translates into the Sox getting schooled. On top of that, Clayton Kerosene was pitching for the Sox, which usually translates into the game being over in the 2nd inning.

Much to my surprise, Clayton held his own. In fact, his balls officially dropped tonight. In facter, I will no longer call him Clayton Kerosene. He officially earned his surname back tonight. He pitched out of his freaking mind tonight, holding the Yankees to no runs and one hit through six innings.

Alas, the White Sox bats went limper than an old man caught in a snowstorm, generating one run in the entire game off the unhittable Phil Hughes and a host of other bullpen scrubs. Clayton held his own until falling apart in the 7th inning, and left with the game tied 1-1. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, the trustworthy Mike MacDougal was summoned to do his usual gag job, and he did so with flying colors. One wild pitch later, Yankees up 2-1, ballgame. Joba shut the Sox down in the 8th, and to add a dump truck full of salt into the festering wound, Scott Linebrink continued his shocking downfall, allowing two home runs and effectively putting the game out of reach 5-1. Sox manned up in the ninth, going down 1-2-3.

Is ANYONE trustworthy in that joke of a bullpen? Anyone? I don't want to even answer that one lest I injure myself in the process. Just rest assured that if a game comes down to the Sox holding a lead or keeping a deficit close with their bullpen, just save yourself the trouble and turn the game off.

The lone bright spot, Minnesota lost, keeping the lead at 2.5 with the Twins "only" having 10 games left. I swear to God, that series in the Metrodome next week is shaping up to be a nuclear fallout for Sox fans.