'Cuban Missile' rescues Sox fans
Can a Piranha survive outdoors?
That's what baseball fans will find out after the White Sox forced a one-game tiebreaker against Minnesota for the American League Central crown. Backed by a solid start by Gavin Floyd on Monday, the Sox thumped Detroit 8-2 in front of a damp, yet spirited crowd to force the extra game.
Today's contest will be at U.S. Cellular Field, which is far away from the unfriendly indoor confines of the Metrodome, the home of "The Piranhas," the name Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen dubbed Minnesota for their pesky play. The teams will play in front of a full house. Sox brass announced less than hour after the Detroit game that Tuesday's 6:35 p.m. game was sold out, as elated fans formed long lines outside the stadium's gates to purchase tickets.
Sox rookie Alexei Ramirez drew a curtain call in the 6th inning after his grand slam into right field broke a tie and gave the Sox a lead they failed to relinquish.
"We were all on our feet giving high-fives to people in the aisle," said Jenny Moeller of Schaumburg.
Rain delayed the 1:05 p.m. start as Sox hurler Gavin Floyd tossed the first pitch at 4:09 p.m. But soggy Sox fans like Terry Reagan of Bartlett braved the elements anyway, wishing to see their team extend their season and force the game against Minnesota. Reagan and his son rearranged their Monday schedule to attend the Detroit game. Injuries have mounted for the Sox, who have lost All Stars Carlos Quentin and Joe Crede, but Reagan remained confident.
"If they get it in with the rain, they'll get a win," Reagan said as rain poured down the stadium's concourse before the game.
The rain delay was beneficial for fans like Moeller. The green seats filled slowly as people decided to leave work early to catch the game.
But before the grand slam, a nervous energy swept through the stadium, as fans have watched the Sox slump this month, including last week's demoralizing sweep in Minnesota. The paranoia reached its peak when fans let out an assortment of groans after Floyd's 6th inning throwing error down the first baseline, which gave Detroit a brief 2-1 lead.
"It's another do or die game," longtime Sox Park organist and Mundelein resident Nancy Faust said. "They better win this one."
Faust entertained the crowd during the delay, playing songs like "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head." She entered Monday's game not knowing if this would be the last game of her season.
But Ramirez, nicknamed the Cuban Missile, ensured baseball would be played today, as he jumped on the first pitch he saw to change the dynamic of the ballpark as quickly as the seasons change in Chicago.
Moeller, a season-ticker holder, already has seats to tonight's tilt against Minnesota. She comes from a divided family torn apart as half root for the Cubs. She feared being taunted if the Sox dropped Monday's game.
Schaumburg's Shalin Parikh didn't really care about the Cubs chances as he stood in line waiting for tickets for today's game.
"The Cubs will probably choke anyway," he said. "They don't really matter."