| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
CHICAGO (AP) -- The only time Jim Parque threw a punch Wednesday
night was in celebration of a defensive play.
Parque combined with two relievers on a five-hit shutout,
leading the Chicago White Sox to a 1-0 victory over the punchless
Detroit Tigers.
|  | | Dean Palmer and manager Phil Garner argue with plate umpire Chris Guccione after Palmer was ejected for arguing a called third strike. |
"It was one of the better performances we've had really for a
starting pitcher," White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said. "We had a
guy who we needed to step up step up."
Parque and Detroit's Jeff Weaver were facing each other for the
first time since a fight-marred game April 22 at Comiskey Park when
11 players and coaches were ejected.
"Like (Detroit's) Dean Palmer said, the memory's still there
but the anger goes away," Parque said. "The only time it did
factor in my mind was when I threw in and tight at (Bobby)
Higginson and everybody cheered."
The Tigers have not forgotten the melee.
"Is there tension between the teams? Definitely," Detroit's
Damion Easley said.
Easley won't forget Chris Singleton's sensational catch in the
third. Singleton robbed Easley of a home run with one out with a
perfectly timed leaping catch at the eight-foot fence in
left-center.
"Everything was right. The timing was right, the ball was right
and I jumped with both legs," Singleton said. "Everything seems
in slow motion when you make a catch like that."
"When I hung the changeup, I knew it was gone," Parque said.
"If anyone can catch this ball, it's Singleton."
"It was a home run -- well, it's an out," Easley said. "It had
enough to leave the park."
Frank Thomas and Harold Baines hit back-to-back doubles with two
outs in the first inning for the only run the White Sox needed as
they won for the fifth time in seven games.
Parque (12-6) gave up five hits over seven innings, only the
second time in his last nine starts that he has gone at least
seven. He struck out four and walked none.
The left-hander, who has been inconsistent since the All-Star
break, won for only the third time in 11 starts. He was 8-2 with a
3.81 ERA in the first half, and 4-4 with a 5.01 ERA since.
"I just felt I was one start away. Every outing was getting
better and better," Parque said.
Bob Howry pitched a hitless eighth and Keith Foulke worked a
perfect ninth for his 30th save in 35 chances and eighth in a row.
Weaver (9-14) took the loss, Detroit's seventh in eight games.
He gave up one run on four hits and two walks, striking out three
in seven innings.
"Of course, I felt a little more fired up about the game, no
doubt about that," Weaver said. "But I expected to see their big
bashers. They must have expected to pour it on with eight lefties
in the lineup."
Manuel gave regulars Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Lee and Paul
Konerko the day off and inserted September call-ups Jeff Liefer,
McKay Christensen and Greg Norton into the starting lineup.
"When I saw the lineup, I laughed," Weaver said. "It didn't
make sense to have a 30-homer guy (Ordonez) on the bench. It would
have been a more exciting game if they had started the regulars."
The White Sox were happy with the win, which reduced their magic
number to clinch the AL Central to 12.
The Tigers, shut out for a major league-high 14th time, did not
advance a runner past second base and got one that far only twice.
In the first, Juan Encarnacion doubled with one out, but was
stranded when Higginson flied out and Juan Gonzalez was called out
on strikes.
In the sixth, Brad Ausmus singled and advanced on a sacrifice,
but that rally stalled when Encarnacion grounded out and Higginson
lined out.
Game notes
It was the White Sox's first 1-0 victory at Comiskey Park
since beating Baltimore in 11 innings on June 7, 1997. ... Thomas
started at first base for only the 29th time this season. He has
started as the designated hitter in 114 games. ... Palmer was
ejected in the fourth inning for arguing a called third strike. ...
Chicago RHP Cal Eldred, who had a pin inserted into his right
forearm because of a stress fracture, threw from about 60 feet
Wednesday and reported no discomfort.
| |
ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Detroit Clubhouse
Chi. White Sox Clubhouse
RECAPS
Minnesota 7
Oakland 6
Cleveland 10
Boston 3
NY Yankees 3
Toronto 2
Chi. White Sox 1
Detroit 0
Baltimore 9
Texas 4
Anaheim 8
Tampa Bay 4
Seattle 2
Kansas City 1
NY Mets 4
Milwaukee 1
Cincinnati 13
Chicago Cubs 3
Philadelphia 15
Montreal 5
St. Louis 9
Pittsburgh 5
Atlanta 4
Florida 0
San Francisco 3
Houston 2
Arizona 3
Los Angeles 2
Colorado 11
San Diego 0
|
