White Sox top Tigers in final meeting

The Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers are two similar teams battling for the same goal. It was no surprise then that in their final meeting of the year, the teams played nearly the exact same game. And a look at the standings indicates no surprise that the White Sox won, barely.

Entering the contest separated by two games, the Sox and the Tigers each sent a quality starting pitcher to the mound. Both men were treated rudely. Both men lasted four innings.

Jose Quintana, the 23-year-old rookie lefty, pitted Chicago down 3-0 in the top of the third when the bottom part of the Detroit order gave him trouble. Singles by #8 hitter, Avisail Garcia, and #9 hitter, Gerald Laird, preceded an RBI single by Detroit’s superb leadoff man, Austin Jackson. Detroit’s Omar Infante followed with a sacrifice bunt, which moved the runners to second and third. Chicago manager Robin Ventura countered by intentionally walking Miguel Cabrera. Quintana followed the walk by striking out Prince Fielder, but then allowed a two-run single to Delmon Young. A wild pitch, an intentional walk, and a Brandon Boesch strikeout later, the White Sox were lucky to find themselves only down three.

The White Sox responded in the bottom of the fourth. With the bases loaded, Tigers pitcher Doug Fister hit Chicago second baseman (and #9 hitter) Gordon Beckham for a hurts so good RBI. Dewayne Wise followed with a two-run single to tie the game at 3-3.

The Tigers responded immediately, reclaiming the lead in the top of the fifth with Delmon Young’s third RBI of the game. Following a Miguel Cabrera double and an exceedingly rare Prince Fielder infield single that bounced Jose Quintana from the game, Young welcomed reliever Nate Jones with a single to center. That would be the last Tigers hit of the game.

Following his opponent’s lead, Doug Fister exited the game after allowing a leadoff single and double in the bottom of the fifth. In the play of the game, following an Alex Rios walk and an A.J. Pierzynski lineout, Infante booted a potential double play ball. The error cost the Tigers two runs, and potentially a whole lot more.

Five Chicago White Sox bullpen pitchers combined to allow one hit over five innings. Trade deadline acquisition Brett Myers pitched a spotless inning-and-a-third and rookie closer Addison Reed recorded the final out for his 27th save of the season.

Detroit’s bullpen pitched admirably as well, allowing two hits over four scoreless innings.

The win leaves Chicago three games up in the AL Central with 16 games left. The respective teams’ next three games loom large. Detroit, desperate to make up ground, host the surging Oakland Athletics while Chicago visits the Kansas City Royals, against whom the Sox are 5-10 this season. Now would be a good time for the Sox to beat up on a team everyone has whooped this season.

The Tigers do end the season with 13 games against the Royals and fellow AL Central cellar dweller Minnesota, but by that point they may be in need of nothing less than a miracle. The Sox have held off the Tigers all season. In the final stretch of the season these two similar teams will need suddenly disparate finales.

The Big Guy

Manny Machado called up

One day removed from Steve Johnson’s sparkling starting debut, the Orioles left no doubt about their playoff aspirations when they called up top prospect Manny Machado.

The third overall selection of the 2010 MLB Draft, the 20-year-old Machado will play third base in the bigs. He is expected to get most of his early starts against left-handed pitchers, but could claim the everyday job due to his defense.

Viewed as the shortstop of the future, Machado only logged two games at the hot corner this season with Double-A Bowie. He made one error in seven chances, whatever that is worth. In 104 games at short he posted a solid .954 fielding percentage. He has been taking balls at third as frequently as four times a week down on the farm.

Machado’s bat will not bump Baltimore out of the lower third of most rankings. He owns a .266/.352/.438 line with 11 home runs and 59 RBI in Bowie. He is a career .263 hitter in the minors who smacks fastballs and is still adjusting to the professional breaking ball.

At 6’3″, 185 pounds, Machado is still developing his body and is years away from reaching his 20 home run potential. His youth make his offensive numbers best served with a grain of salt. Perhaps the Orioles see something his numbers do not show? His 2011 numbers, .257/.335/.421, do not pop off the page, but Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations, Dan Duquette, felt comfortable promoting Machado from A+ to AA to start 2012.

Maybe the O’s system knows something we don’t know. More likely, football season starts today, the Orioles are tied for the AL Wild Card, and they want to strike both a clubhouse and a city with playoff baseball fever. Machado’s call up will go down as more of a symbolic roster move than one that will offer direct on-field rewards.

Expect Machado to hit around .250 with singe digit homers and around 20 RBI by seasons end. He will make some Sportscenter worthy stops at third, and if all goes well, his vibrant youth and now-is-the-time symbolism will be his biggest contribution to the Baltimore clubhouse as they surge their way into a postseason only one blogger saw coming.

Another note worth watching is the AA call up of top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy. Bundy owned a 6-3 record with a 2.98 ERA and 10.4 K/9 in 54.1 IP in A+. Bundy could very well be a September call up if the O’s remain in contention.

Watch Machado make his debut against lefty Will Smith and the Kansas City Royals in Camden Yards at 7:05 EST.

The Big Guy

Look at me now!!!

Fresh on a four game winning streak, the improbable Baltimore Orioles turn to rookie Steve Johnson to make it five straight. The 24-year-old righty takes the hill against the Seattle Mariners.

A 13th round pick in the 2005 MLB Draft, Johnson owns a 2.86 ERA in AAA with 8.5 K/9 and a flossy 1.062 WHIP. Johnson joined the Balitmore system in 2009 in the trade that sent reliever George Sherrill to the Dodgers.

In 28 starts in AA in 2010, Johnson struggled to a 5.09 in 28 starts over 145 IP. Johnson improved in 2011, with a 4.20 ERA in both AA and AAA. An astute O’s fan might recall Johnson’s July 15 relief appearance against Detroit when he allowed 1 ER over 2 IP.

The 6’1″, 220 pound Baltimore native will take the start in place of Tommy Hunter, who was scratched after warming up in Tuesday’s 14-inning win over the Mariners.

Seattle will start veteran right-hander Kevin Millwood, 4-9 with a 4.01 ERA. A win would tie Baltimore’s season record at five straight wins. Now is the time for Balitmore to get hot, as they will host the Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox over the next seven games. The Big Guy is on record saying the Orioles will make it to the playoffs.

The game is scheduled for a 7:05 EST start.

The Big Guy

A Night in the American League

Every night The Big Guy breaks down the action in the American League.

Biggest Win

Athletics 10-Angels 4: Oakland reclaimed second place in the AL West in a game that was 10-1 through seven innings. A’s starter Bartolo Colon (1-year, $2 million contract) allowed 1 unearned run over 7 IP as he outpitched L.A. starter C.J. Wilson (5-year, $77.5 million contract). Oakland’s #7-9 Murderers’ Row of Derek Norris, Adam Rosales and Jemile Weeks combined for 6 RBI on 3 hits. The California showdown will be determined tomorrow in the rubber game.

Best Hitter

The Baltimore Orioles picked up an impressive comeback victory Monday over the Seattle Mariners. The 8-7 game saw five home runs, two of them off the bat of Matt Wieters. The Oriole catcher finished 3-6, 2 HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R. Baltimore remains right in the thick of things in the AL Wild Card race. Watch out for this dark horse.

Best Pitcher

James Shields dazzled in his second straight start for the Tampa Bay Rays. The 30-year-old righty went 8 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 6 K, 1 BB. Shields has lowered his ERA 0.44 over his last two outings and improved his record to 10-7 in the 4-1 win over Toronto.

Stat to Know

The Baltimore Orioles have won the first two games of their three game set with Seattle. After Tuesday’s series finale, the O’s will host Kansas City and Boston. The ten-game homestand is crucial as Baltimore approaches a grueling early-mid September.

Tomorrow’s Note

Baltimore will turn to 24-year-old rookie Steve Johnson on Tuesday. The righty will face 37-year-old Kevin Millwood in his first career start. Johnson owns a 2.86 ERA in 91.1 IP in AAA this season.

A Night in the American League

Every night The Big Guy breaks down the action in the American League.

Biggest Win

White Sox 11-Twins 4: The Sox regained a share of the AL Central lead Tuesday when they walloped Minnesota. Big Donkey went nuts going 3-5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 3 R. Newly acquired reliever Brett Myers pitched a scoreless ninth and starter Jose Quintana went 6.1 IP, 8 H, 4 ER. First baseman Paul Konerko and shortstop Alexi Ramirez each hit homers. Of course, Chicago would like to thank the Cleveland Racists for making this all possible.

Best Hitter

The aforementioned Adam Dunn. Dunn’s blast was his Major League-best 30th of the season. The only consistent #3 hitter to bat .205 in that hole, Dunn’s on-base percentage is a solid .353. The 32-year-old 6’6″, 285 pound horse is five home runs from 400 and 7 RBI from 1,000. Give him two weeks and he’ll have them both.

Best Pitcher

Kansas City Royals 23-year-old lefty Will Smith cruised to his second major league win Tuesday. The 229th pick of the 2008 Draft went 7 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4 K against the home Los Angeles Angels. Smith did walk a season-high four, but was able to elude damage after allowing his only run in the first inning. The 6’5″, 240 pound prospect made his debut against the Yankees earlier this season and can expect to remain in the big leagues for the rest of the season.

Stat to know

Former Chicago Cubs legend Sam Fuld made his season debut Tuesday with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Stanford man went 1-3, R, BB, SB. The Rays are undefeated this year when Fuld is in the fold. Tampa beat Baltimore yesterday 3-1.

Tomorrow’s Note

Oakland Athletics starter A.J. Griffin has thrown exactly 6.0 IP in each of his five starts this season; and as his 2.70 ERA suggests, all five starts have been quality. Griffin is yet to allow more than 3 ER and is 2-0. The El Cajon, CA native takes the hill in Toronto against the Blue Jays. Oakland is 15-2 in their last 17 games. They are starting to look like a classic Billy Beane team. Watch out.

A Night in the American League

Every night The Big Guy breaks down the action in the American League.

Best Win

White Sox 7-Red Sox 5: Chicago hung on to a sixth inning 7-2 advantage to claim their seventh win in their last ten. Boston starter Jon Lester went 4 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, 3 BB. White Sox center fielder and leadoff hitter Alejandro De Aza went 2-3 with runners in scoring position and third baseman Kevin Youkilis hit a 3-run homer out of the #2 spot. At 50-40, the White Sox remain 3 1/2 games ahead of a surging Detroit Tigers club (8-2 in last 10). Boston finds themselves in the murky place that is the AL East after New York. Two games separate second-place Tampa Bay and fifth-place Toronto.

Best Hitter

Mike Trout continued his torrid ways Tuesday with a 4-6, HR, 2 RBI, 3 R night. The Los Angeles Angels center fielder has 18 hits and 8 stolen bases over his last ten games. The 20-year-old right-handed hitter ticked the average up to .355 and 35 of his 100 hits on the year have been for extra bases. Who knew the team that signed Albert Pujols over the offseason would be swooning over the exploits of a rookie with legitimate chants of M-V-P?

Best Pitcher

It was an L.A. kind of night last night. The Angels 24-year-old righty starter Garrett Richards went 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 K. Richards pitched to the right kind of contact as his fielders picked up 16 ground ball outs. After a seven game (three starts) cup of coffee last season, Richards has a 3.53 ERA in seven starts this year. While he has experienced the bumps that you expect from a rookie pitcher, this was the second time he has gone at least seven shutout innings. Richards is 3-1 but needs to lower that 1.55 WHIP.

Stat to know

In 66 at-bats this season, Kansas City Royals rookie catcher Salvador Perez is batting .364. The 22-year-old Venezuelan is a career .341 hitter over 214 at-bats.

Wednesday’s Note

The White Sox will trot out, Surprise! Surprise!, another rookie pitcher Wednesday. Pedro Hernandez, 23, made 12 starts in AA Birmingham, compiling a 2.75 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 68.2 IP. Hernandez is a lefty.