Round 1 - Chisox outlast Tribe (update by Ron Burnette)

Holiday Festival – Round 1 – Cleveland Indians vs. Chicago White Sox

Game 1

Cleveland 3 – Chicago 1 (Cleveland leads the series 1-0)

Justin Masteron vs. Mark Buehrle

The aces of both staffs met up in game 1. Masterson was well, masterful. He scattered 7 hits in 7.1 shutout innings leading the Tribe to victory in game 1. Asdrubal Cabrera added a 2 run homer in the 3^rd and Chris Perez rapped things up getting the final two outs. Omar Vizquel, who must be 50 by now, enjoyed a 3-3 night back in front of fans who still truly love the guy. A sign of things to come?

Game 2

Cleveland 3 - Chicago 9 (Series tied at 1)

Fausto Carmona vs. Phillip Humbler

This game was close until the 6^th inning. The Pale Hose led 4-3 going into the 6^th but added runs in the 6^th, 7^th and 8^th innings to pull away. The White Sox were led by Paul Konerko and Alex Rios with 3 RBIs each and solid starting pitching from Humbler who went 7.1 giving up 3 runs. Rios earned MVP honors.

Game 3

Chicago 6 – Cleveland 7 12 Innings (Cleveland leads the series 2-1)

Josh Tomlin vs. Gavin Floyd

Always a critical game when a best of 5 series is tied at 1, this game turned into a classic. The Tribe streaked out to early 6-2 lead after 4. Travis Hafner and Asdrubal Cabrera each contributed 2 run singles. Then it was the White Sox turn to score some runs. 1 run in the 5^th and 3 in the 6^th, all of which scored after 2 were out, left the game tied at 6. Then something strange occurred. The pitchers took over. For the next 5 innings neither team could score. In the top of the 12^th Carlos Santana, no not that one, hit a mammoth 355’ leadoff home run to give the Tribe the lead and ultimately the victory. Vinnie Pestano got the last out for the save.

Game 4

Chicago 17 – Cleveland 9 (Series tied at 2)

Edwin Jackson vs. Hector Carrasco

Your scribe is still scratching his head over this one.  Cleveland scored 4 in the 1^st and 3 more in the 4^th to take a 7-0 lead. Carrasco was cruising. He gave up 2 in the bottom half of the 4^th but Cleveland added one in the 5^th to take an 8-2 lead. Then the wheels fell off. The train was derailed. The deer looked at the lights. Something happened to the Tribe and before they could wake up the White Sox had scored 7 runs in the bottom of the 5^th to take a 9-8 lead. 7 men in row reached base. But to Cleveland’s credit they rebounded to tie the game at 9 in the top of the 8^th on a Cabrera single and Santana double. Then that same inexplicable phenomena occurred again and before the Tribe could wake up this time the White Sox had scored 8 times in the bottom of the 9^th. 10 different White Sox batted in runs. And the old man Vizquel went 4-6 to raise his average to .667.

Game 5

Cleveland 1 - Chicago 5 (White Sox win the series 3-2)

Justin Masteron vs. Mark Buehrle

Give Cleveland credit. Behind their ace Masterson, they took a 1-0 lead into the 4^th. But on this night Mark Buehrle was just too good. Mark went 7.2 innings giving up only 1 run. The White Sox scored single runs in the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th innings to pull away and then added 2 more in the 8^th to clinch it. Buehrle earned game MVP honors, but Omar Vizquel had the game winning RBI and batted a series high .563 to earn, at least in this scribes estimation, series MVP honors.