Sports

ALDS: White Sox rally for 2-0 lead

Associated Press
Published October 6, 2005

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CHICAGO - Boston needs another big comeback, this time just to get out of the first round.

Tadahito Iguchi hit a go-ahead, three-run homer off David Wells after a costly error by Red Sox second baseman Tony Graffanino, and the White Sox rallied for a 5-4 victory over Boston on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead against the defending World Series champions in their AL division series.

The Red Sox, 14-2 losers in Tuesday's opener, took a 4-0 lead in the third, then were shut out on three hits for the final six innings by Mark Buehrle and Bobby Jenks.

Graffanino hit a one-out double in the ninth, but Jenks got the save by retiring Johnny Damon on a foulout to the catcher and Edgar Renteria on a groundout.

After a 19-8 loss to the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the AL championship series a year ago, the Red Sox won eight straight games to capture their first World Series title since 1918. Boston has won eight of its last nine games when facing postseason elimination.

"Believe me, they know how to come back," Guillen said.

"I'd rather have it the other way," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

Wells, who dropped to 10-4 in postseason play, allowed two hits through the first four innings.

After the White Sox scored twice in the fifth and closed to 4-2, Graffanino let Juan Uribe's potential inning-ending, double-play grounder go through his legs - bringing up memories of first baseman Bill Buckner's error on Mookie Wilson's grounder in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series against the New York Mets.

"I didn't get a good read on it. I just took my eye off it. I just flat out missed it," Graffanino said.

One out later, Iguchi hit a three-run homer to left, giving Chicago a five-run inning for the second straight day.

Uribe's grounder went right to Graffanino, who played for Chicago's previous playoff team in 2000, and the ball went through his legs, putting runners at first and third.

Graffanino went over to the mound and gave Wells a pat on the back, and the pitcher responded in kind.

"I told him, "My bad' right there," Graffanino said. "I asked him to pick me up and I thought we were going to get out of the inning. That's a huge play."

Wells certainly wanted to take his second baseman off the hook, he just couldn't do it.

Wells retired Scott Podsednik on a foul pop for the second out. Iguchi, a 30-year-old major league rookie who played eight seasons in his native Japan, connected for the home run.

"If you are going to point a finger, you point it at me," Wells said.

Buehrle, who started and won the All-Star game for the AL with Boston's Terry Francona as his manager and Jason Varitek as his catcher, was hit hard by the Red Sox in two regular-season starts, giving up 22 hits and nine earned runs in 13 innings.

He went seven innings, giving up four runs and eight hits. Wells allowed five runs - two earned - and seven hits in 62/3 innings.

Boston went right after Buehrle. Damon's leadoff grounder went under Crede's glove at third and was ruled a hit, and Renteria followed with a double.

After David Ortiz struck out, Manny Ramirez lined a two-run single over Podsednik in left.

Damon singled in the third and, one out later, Ortiz doubled to left and just beat the throw to second. The White Sox intentionally walked Ramirez to load the bases, and Varitek hit an RBI single. Trot Nixon followed with a run-scoring grounder, beating the relay throw from second to avert a double play.

Wells, the front of his shirt at times flying open to expose his bright red undershirt, showed he can move a bit when he raced over to cover first after John Olerud made a great stop on speedy Podsednik's grounder. Wells won the race.

Olerud got the nod at first over Kevin Millar because of his defense. Both had struggled against Buehrle - Miller 1-for-18 and Olerud 1-for-11 before the game.

[Last modified October 6, 2005, 01:14:18]