Sox Hilights:
Pitcher Chris Van Hise allowed only a single earned run over four innings of relief, and went 3-3 at the plate with a double and a walk. The Sox also got multi-hit games from Jim Pagano and Dan Skelton. Designated hitter Ken Bruck had a two-run double in the fourth. On defense, the Sox nearly turned a triple play when -- with the baes loaded with Pirates -- Ricardo pulled in a fly ball in center field, threw home to Monty Forthun who tagged out the Pirate runner who had tagged up from third, and then threw to third just a little too late to get the man tagging from second base.

Sox Hilights:
Kyle Anderson had two hits and two stolen bases. Center fielder Ricardo went 2-3 with two doubles and a RBI. Shortstop Gregg Scavron had a two-run double. Third baseman Jim Pagano stayed hot, going 2-3 with a couple of RBIs.

GAME ONE: VAN HISE AND HOWLETT TAKE CHARGE
Starting Pitcher Chris Van Hise continued his dominance over the Blue Jays and left fielder Jim Howlett exploded at the plate to lead the Sox to victory.
   After tossing a one-hitter against the Jays on June 24th, Van Hise limited them to only 4 hits and two runs over seven innings today. It wasn't all that easy, however, as Van Hise had to work out of a first-inning jam of his own making. After hitting the Jays' leadoff man with the first pitch of the game, Van Hise walked the next man and then hit the number three hitter. Shortstop Gregg Scavron helped stem the tide by picking up the clean-up hitter's ground ball for a 6u-3 double play. Van Hise then walked another man before finally escaping the inninng by striking out the next batter.
   Howlett, who came into the game with a total of 5 hits and 4 RBIs on the season, went 3-3 with a double and a whopping 5 RBIs.
   The game was called on account of the mercy rule after the Sox scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning -- culminated by a bases-loaded single by right fielder Dan Skelton -- to take a fifteen run lead.

Game One Hilights:
Designated hitter Ken Bruck had two hits and four RBIs. Center fielder Ricardo drove in two runs. Shortstop Gregg Scavron collected two hits and a RBI. Third baseman Jim Pagano managed to score four runs without swinging a bat; he walked four times on 17 pitches.

Game Two Hilights:
Designated hitter Chris Van Hise went 3-3 with a double. Third baseman Ken Bruck hit two doubles. Center fielder Kyle Anderson had two hits. Left fielder Jim Howlett finished the day 4-6 with two doubles and six RBIs. The Blue Jay's left fielder and leadoff man Tom ______ deserves special mention for playing game two despite being forced out of game one after being hit with the first pitch of the day; knocking down Monty Forthun's first-inning RBI single with the part of his body that should have been protected by a cup; and finally colliding with the Sox second basemen while being thrown out attempting to steal.

SOX SQUEAK BY RANGERS
JULY 29: SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ -
The White Sox survived a dogfight and eventually beat the Rangers 4-3 today. It was an uphill battle all the way -- battling not only the Rangers, but also the effects of playing two games in 40 hours, the Sox fell behind in the first and fourth innings, but came back with runs of their own in the bottom of both innings.
   Things could have been worse, however, especially in the fourth inning. The Rangers' lead-off hitter reached base when the Sox center fielder let a sinking line drive pop out of his glove. The base runner then moved to second on a ground ball to second base. The Rangers' number-three hitter then drove starter Rick Ochocki's third pitch on a line to right where Dan Skelton made a lunging catch and eventually threw to second base from his knees. The throw was not in time to double of the base runner, but the Sox appealed that he had not retouched third base on his way back to second. The umpires ruled the base runner out, and the inning over without any scoring, but the Rangers protested this decision, and the Sox were eventually ordered back out onto the field. A two-out single from the Rangers' clean-up hitter, _______ Maragota, brought in a run, and the next batter reached on the Sox second error of the inning. Catcher, Monty Forthun, then ended the threat by throwing out Maragota attempting to steal third.
   The Rangers took a brief lead in the seventh inning on a lead-off walk and two base hits. The Sox threatened to tie it up in their half of the Dave Steele led off with a single and moved to third on a swinging bunt by John Kuhn and a passed ball. Steele was stranded their by his teammates who left a total of 11 runners on the day.
   The Sox came back in the bottom of the eighth -- led, appropriately enough, by lead-off hitter Gregg Scavron. The Sox shortstop singled to start the inning, promptly stole second, then went to third on a passed ball and tied the game by scoring when the Ranger's catcher threw the ball away in an attempt to nail Scavron at third. After Kyle Anderson flew out to right, pitcher Chris Van Hise doubled to put the go-ahead run in scoring position. One out later, left fielder Jim Howlett punched the first pitch he saw down the first-base line into right. Anderson -- running for Van Hise -- scored easily and Howlett was thrown out trying to advance to second.
   In the top of the ninth, Chris Van Hise shut the door on the Rangers by setting down the first three men he faced on a fly ball to center, a strike out and a ground ball to second to end the game.

Sox Hilights:
The Sox got multi-hit games from shortstop, Gregg Scavron -- who also had two stolen bases -- center fielder, Kyle Anderson -- including a double -- and third baseman, Jim Pagano.

For writeups of previous games, please go to SoxWire Archives