Final Act Drama is Sox-Mariners Split

Sept. 1 at Chicago – Bo Jackson (3) got a 3-2 Arthur Rhodes delivery belt-high, and he didn’t miss it. The score was 2-2 with 2 outs in the B9 with Frank Thomas (double) on second and Robin Ventura (IBB) on first. Jackson’s big fly to LCF powered the 1993 White Sox to a 5-2 win over the 2000 Seattle Mariners. Jose Paniagua (0-2) was actually tagged with the loss. Donn Pall (2-0) grabbed the relief win.

Sept. 2 at Chicago – The Postman Always Rings Twice – I don’t know what that has to do with Bo Jackson or baseball, but it was a good movie. Also, Jackson (4) “delivered” again for the ChiSox with another 9^th inning, walk-off home run and a 6-5 win at Comiskey Park. Bo knows drama. Ellis Burks was the primary mover and shaker for the Sox early on as his 2B in the 3^rd plated 3 runs and gave them a 4-2 lead. David Bell had doubled in the 2^nd to plate 2 for the Mariners. Both clubs exchanged runs in the 5^th, then Stan Javier (1) belted a 2-run HR in the 7^th to tie it at 5-5. End of the line relievers Brian Drahman (1-0) and Robert Ramsey (0-1) figured in the scoring totals.  

Sept. 3 at Seattle – The setting switched to Seattle for Act 3 and the final scene heroics also belonged to the Mariners. Mike Cameron doubled in the B11th to score Al Martin with the walk-off 2-1 winner. Both starting pitchers, Wilson Alvarez for Chicago (5.2 IP) and Freddy Garcia (8 IP) for the Navs, were strong. Jose Guillen’s RBI ground out in the 6^th and Lance Johnson’s RBI single in the 8^th sent us to overtime. Terry Leach (0-1) and Frank Rodriguez (1-0) were the pitchers of record.

Sept. 4 at Seattle – Stan Javier singled in Bell in the B9th for a 6-5 Mariners win and ended yet another cliff-hanger in walk-off fashion. Both managers, Justin Ryan of the Mariners and Bruce Thomas from Chicago, checked into local hospitals to have their hearts checked at the conclusion of this series. Jay Buhner (9, 10) homered twice and drove in 3 to power the Seattle offense. The “Big Hurt” (2B, HR) had 3 hits and 3 RBI for the Pale Hose. Brett Tomko (2-0) got the win in relief of Aaron Sele (7 IP) for the Mariners. Drahman (1-1) suffered the loss.