I felt the Sox had the game in the bag. They had doubled their hit output against Brad Penny 3 batters in to the game. Remember Penny had thrown one hit ball at the Sox over 7 innings the first time he faced them in April.
They even added 2 runs. Jake Peavy pitching, no problem.

For 3 innings, Peavy was unhittable, literally. No hits for the Tigers through 3 innings, with Peavy pitching in with 3 strikeouts. To the fourth, and the Peavy we knew, and loved, left the game–not literally. Walking 3, giving up 6 runs, including a grand slam. Game over. Tigers go on to win 7-3, taking 2 of the 3 from the White Sox.

I wonder what happened? Did the Tigers make some incredible adjustments, or did Peavy lose his stuff that quickly? In his first 5 starts, Peavy walked 1 batter, he walked 3 in the 4th inning today against the Tigers.

Peavy struck out the first 3 hitters of the game, and looked dominating doing it. I used to believe when that happens, the pitcher was destined to have a great game. I now know that unless the pitcher throws in the high 90′s, that probably isn’t going to happen. More times when not, I watch a pitcher fan the first 3 guys, and he goes on to lose the game, or get a no decision.

Alex Rios didn’t play on Sunday, so I have nothing to say about him.

Brent Morel has turned his game around, offensively and defensively. He is picking them with the best, after looking like he may set a record for errors by a 3rd baseman earlier in the season. He is also getting his bat going. One month ago he was hitting .187. He is now at .265. Right now he is on a 7 game hitting streak, a better than .400 clip.

Another guy who is doing it ever so quietly, but still doing it is Gordon Beckham. The 2nd baseman hit is 2nd home run in as many days for the Sox. Those 2 guys are the reason I think the Sox will eventually take the division. The veterans will come through (I hope), it’s the young guys that you have no book on.

Adam Dunn got a hit today, and received a standing ovation from a few in the crowd. He can’t buy any luck right now. He was called out on strikes on a pitch that appeared to be a foot out of the strike zone in the 4th inning. Sadly, he had another 3 punch-outs today. That’s another hat trick for the big man. If this was hockey, Dunn would be leading the league in scoring. Unfortunately, it is baseball.

Welcome back Paul Konerko. The Captain missed the last couple games, but never took his hitting shoes off, collecting another couple today.

Make it 13 HPB for Carlos Quentin this year.

So the Sox are, once again, 5 games under 500, with the most surprising team in baseball, the Seattle Mariners coming to town.

The struggle continues–go Sox!!