One or the Other

The White Sox showed resilience yesterday, that, or a dead-cat bounce. Either way, they defeated the Tigers 3-1 in front of nearly 31,000 fans who didn’t mind rearranging their Saturday plans when the game time was switched from evening to afternoon in order to beat the approaching rain. Sean Burke pitched six effective innings of one-run ball. Noah Schultz (!) and Grant Taylor provided three shutout innings to seal the victory. Miguel Vargas was the offense. Vargas drew a two-out walk in the first, stole second base and scored the first run of the game on a duck snort to left by Munetaka Murakami. Vargas’ 33rd homerun of the season led off the sixth inning, giving the Sox a two-run lead after Sam Antonacci’s sacrifice fly in the fifth. Did I mention Vargas also made at least one run-saving play at third reminiscent of Robin Ventura and Joe Crede? Unless something changes drastically and suddenly, the Sox will sink or swim (or bounce) depending what Vargas does over the next seven games. Murakami along with Braden and Colson Montgomery are just too far gone right now to be of much help. Whatever Antonacci, Andrew Benintendi and Chase Meidroth can bring to the plate would be greatly appreciated. I’d include Tristan Peters to the list, if it weren’t for Peters crashing into the fence Friday night chasing down Kevin McGonigle’s triple. Day to day, as they say. If only the Sox had the luxury of time. They don’t.