The White Sox won another must-win game, beating the Tigers 8-2 in their season finale. This forces a 1-game playoff with the Minnesota Twins for the AL Central title, and a chance to Alexei Ramirez was the key player in this game, with a 2 hits (including a grand slam), 4 RBI, 2 runs scored, and a stolen base.
Gavin Floyd was solid on the mound for the White Sox, allowing only 2 runs on 5 hits in 6 innings, while striking out 8 to pick up the win.
The Tigers' pitchers only allowed 6 hits, but walks proved costly, as 5 of the 8 runs were scored by players who had reached base on a walk.
Next up for the White Sox is a one-game playoff with the Twins. The Sox will send 23-year old John Danks to the mound on 3 days rest, against the Twins' Nick Blackburn. Danks is 11-9 with a 3.47 ERA, and Blackburn is 11-10 and 4.14.
Due to the extra day of rest they had while the White Sox played the Tigers, the Twins' bullpen should be a bit fresher than the White Sox.
The Twins and White Sox have very similar teams. After finishing the season with identical records, playing almost the same exact schedule, the Twins finished 4th in runs scored and 13th in team ERA, while the White Sox finished 7th and 12th, respectively. The Twins won the regular season series 10-8, but the Whit Sox outscored them 100-99 in those 18 games. It's anyone's guess who will win this game and go on to face the Rays, but my money is on the Twins.
Any predictions? Let's hear them.
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