Text size:

From the Cubicle

Play-by-play commentary of the Sox-Tigers game from a guy wearing freshly-laundered clothes.

Rahula Strohl

6:19 PM EDT, July 20, 2005

After Jose Contreras put forth the Hyde version of his Jekyll-and-Hyde season last night, the Sox look to take the rubber match of their three-game set with Detroit before hosting the other, more whiny and self-important Sox for the weekend.

Freddy Garcia (9-3, 3.41) takes the mound against Tigers lefty Nate Robertson (4-7, 3.28). When Freddy last faced the Tigers, he gave up an unearned run in a 96-pitch complete game. More more impressive was that the night before, the Sox used just about every pitcher on their staff in a 13-inning win and desperately needed a performance exactly like Freddy's.

As always, we have our comment board over on the right or you can e-mail me. Doubtless you will witness trade talk, so I'll start it off. The Sox shouldn't do anything unless it falls in their lap. Our own thinks that as long as Dustin Hermanson is healthy, this squad is primed for a playoff run. Remember, their problem in 2000 (and the 2001 Seattle Mariners' problem) was that their big bats went quiet. But scoring runs on stolen bases, sacrifice flies and ground outs doesn't require big bats to be loud.

Baseball in 90-plus degree heat will follow soon. Lineups are in and the Twins are playing the Orioles over on ESPN, so we'll have periodic updates on the enemy. Right now, O's second baseman Brian Roberts is talking about what he remembers of the open-heart surgery done on him when he was five. I think my only health concern when I was five was when I got a little over-excited at my fifth birthday party at McDonald's and ended up sending my McNuggets right back where they came from.

Rahula Strohl E-mail | Recent columns

FIRST INNING

The weather report on Comcast says 89 degrees with 59 percent humidity. I think their thermometer and humidometer (anyone know what it's actually called?) are broken. It feels hotter and more humid than that. Freddy's first-pitch ball is followed by a single to center by Brandon Inge. Freddy goes 3-1 to Carlos Guillen before getting him to fly to left. His first pitch to Chris Shelton is the first called strike of the game. He was having trouble finding the plate with the first two guys. He grooves a 2-1 pitch to Shelton and it's 2-0 Detroit. Oh-ee-oh Magglio drills a single. Someone admonished me for failing to mention Freddy's dominance in day games, but right now he's not looking so good. Of course, as soon as I say that the Tigers send Magglio on a two-strike count to Dmitri Young, who waves at strike three and Widger nails Maggs at second to end the inning.

Tigers 2, Sox comin' up

An Orioles fan friend of mine just dropped me a line saying Rafael Palmeiro has put the Orioles up 2-0 with a dinger in the top of the fourth. Ozuna grounds out to third. I stand corrected about the strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play. Strike three got away from Widger and Maggs tried to take second but Widger wouldn't have it. Iguchi cuts the lead in half with a solo shot past the Sox' bullpen. You can put it on the board, hai! (Credit to my colleague, Adam Caldarelli.) Big Frank pops out. Konerko grounds up the middle and since he is about as quick as a pregnant sloth, gets thrown out by a step.

Tigers 2, Sox 1

SECOND INNING

I-Rod first pitch swinging singles to center just past Iguchi's glove. Craig Monroe grounds to third, Ozuna to second for one and that's all they'll get. The wind is causing Freddy's jersey to flutter, between Pete in Northbrook's comment and Adam's analysis, we may get a rain delay sometime soon. Let's hope it misses, but I don't think so. Omar Infante singles, runners on first and second with one out. Nook "Laloosh" Logan flies to left and Monroe forgets that there's only one out. He was 30 feet past third base on his way home, and Everett lollipops a throw back to the infield to double him off.

2-1 Tigers

Everett grounds to third. Dye does the same to short. Hawk just referred to getting ready for the weekend series against the Carmines from Beantown. It won't be long before we're going to need a Hawk-to-English dictionary to watch these games. Rowand fans.

Trailing 2-1

THIRD INNING

My scouts in the 'burbs tell me we will almost certainly see rain at 35th and Shields. Leadoff walk to Inge. Fly to short center that Aaron handles easily. He reads fly balls as well as anyone in the league. He may not have Andruw Jones' quickness, but he knows exactly where the balls are landing. Freddy goes 2-0 to Chris Shelton, he of two-run homer note from the first inning, and Don Cooper trots out to talk to his starter. Freddy resumes play with a pair of strikes to even the count. He finally gets Shelton swinging at an outside slider. Maggs nails one to third which Ozuna smothers, but can't collect it in time to get Inge at second. First and second with two out for Dmitri Young. Who's competing for the division title, Dmeathook? You and the Indians? Comcast runs the quote, part of which is: "Just look at the positions…It's us and Cleveland." Young bounces back to Freddy.

Motor 2, Windy 1

Widger pops to his counterpart behind the plate. The Twins have tied it at two in the bottom of the sixth. Uribe pops to second. Ozuna fans on a feeble check swing.

Motown 2, Chitown 1

FOURTH INNING