Go-Go and Kudos

It was Go-Go White Sox 2.0 in Seattle last night as the Sox used a walk; a hit-by-pitch; and a double steal plus two infield hits to manufacture two runs in the top of the ninth to beat the Mariners 2-1 last night. Holy Al Lopez! I believe in giving kudos where kudos are due, even—especially—if I was just throwing brickbats at the same people. I’m talking about you, Vibes Venable. The Sox manager showed some definite in-game chops. Munetaka Murakami led off the ninth inning with the Sox down a run by drawing a walk. Venable then chose to prioritize speed now over possible power later by having Derek Hill pinch run. Miguel Vargas followed with a hit-by-pitch, thank you very much, Luis Castillo. After Colson Montgomery struck out, Seattle manager Dan Wilson brought in his closer Andres Munoz to face Chase Meidroth. No three-outcome baseball here. Meidroth poked a singled through a pulled-in infield, after which Andrew Benintendi did likewise. Wait, there’s more begrudging kudos. I’m talking about you, Anthony Kay. The 31-year old righthander labored, and I do mean labored, through a 35-pitch first inning. Kay gave up a single; walked two batters; and hit another. Here’s the thing—that was the Mariners’ only hit all night. Kay settled down to retire fifteen of the final seventeen batters he faced. Now, more kudos coming. I’m talking about you, Chris Getz. Not all the relievers the Sox GM has come up with the past two seasons have been a bust. Two recent acquisitions, Tyler Davis and Bryan Hudson, combined for 2.2 hitless innings in relief of Kay. Then came Grant Taylor, the reluctant reliever, to pitch the bottom of the ninth. The righthanded Taylor needed thirteen pitches to strike out three lefty pinch-hitters, all swinging. Mercy. The trick now is to keep playing smart baseball. A few displays of power wouldn’t hurt, either.