#141---OAK @ SF, 5/22/2005

Moises Alou’s two run homer off Barry Zito in the sixth was the decisive blow of this Giant victory over their Bay Area rivals. San Francisco added an insurance run in the eighth thanks to bumbling by Oakland second baseman Keith Ginter. First he muffed a popup to leadoff the inning, then with two outs he booted a Lance Niekro grounder to allow the runner from second to score. To add insult to injury, his fly to right off Giant closer Tyler Walker was the last out of the game.

#140---CLE @ CHA, 8/6/2004

The Indians did their scoring early against Mark Buehrle, with Coco Crisp launching a three-run blast in the top of the second. After two more hits in that inning, ChiSox pitchers held Cleveland to just three hits the rest of the night. CC Sabathia pitched well for the Tribe, yielding single tallies in each of his last two innings before giving way to former White Sock Bobby Howry for the eighth and Bob Wickman for the ninth. Wickman walked Paul Konerko with one out in the ninth, and after Carl Everett flied out, pinch runner Willie Harris swiped second. On a 1-2 count, Joe Borchard grounded towards second, reaching safely, but Harris made for the plate and was cut down by Ronnie Belliard to end the ballgame. At this stage in the season, it was a moderately important game as both the Indians and the White Sox ended the night six back of the Twins in the divison and 5.5 back of the Rangers in the wildcard. Real contention for both clubs would wait until the next season.


The note indicates this was Roberto Alomar’s first game as a White Sox, appropriately against the Indians with whom he spent three outstanding seasons. I used to try to make note of such events as team debuts on my scoresheets, but gave it up a decade or so ago--uninteresting most cases and perilous to rely on broadcasters for accurate information. I now limit such notes to especially notable events and MLB debuts.