Sox would love to pay back rivals
After a nip-and-tuck race for the AL Central title that lasted all summer and now into the fall, it's only fitting the White Sox and the Minnesota Twins need to play a one-game tiebreaker tonight at U.S. Cellular Field.
Winner take all to Tampa.
The two teams that haven't been separated by more than 3 games in the standings since June 20 reached the 162-game finish line in a dead heat at 88-74, with the White Sox getting there on the strength of Monday's 8-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
Remember last week's three-game sweep by the Twins at the Metrodome? The White Sox do, and they would like nothing more than to pay the Twins back in the most painful way by ending their season and celebrating in front of them.
"I know we were embarrassed there," said White Sox pitcher John Danks, who draws tonight's starting assignment against Nick Blackburn. "I'm sure we would like to not have to worry about playing them one more time, but at the same time this is a chance to get back at them. It's the perfect situation."
The White Sox have won two games in a row that they absolutely had to have to stay alive and would like to think momentum is on their side.
The homefield advantage certainly is, thanks to winning the biggest coin flip in recent Chicago sports history that saved the White Sox from having to return to that horror chamber that is the Metrodome.
The White Sox are 7-2 against the Twins this season at the Cell compared to 1-8 up there under the roof.
"We're in a situation now where we have to go out and handle our business," said Gavin Floyd, Monday's starter and winner. "We have to leave it all on the field and what happens, happens."
The White Sox like the matchup of starters. They felt they let Blackburn off the hook early last week in Minnesota in a game they eventually lost 3-2.
Blackburn worked 5 innings and gave up 2 runs on 8 hits. He is 2-2 in 5 starts against the Sox this season with a 5.67 ERA.
"I'll take my chances against him and he pitches the way he did the last time against us," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He didn't pitch well. When you got the bullpen warming up in the second inning - we just didn't approach him the right way."
It's only the fourth tiebreaker in American League history and the first since 1995 when Seattle and California needed to play an extra game.
"One hundred and sixty-two games mean nothing," Guillen said. "It's only about one game, and that's great."
Guillen doesn't believe he needs to say much to his club for motivation.
"Take the next game the way they approach every game," Guillen said. "I know a lot of people are going to be excited, a lot of people are going to be nervous, a lot of people might lose sleep, but there's only one way you can do it - be ready to show up at the ballpark and be ready to win the game.
"Look at yourself in the mirror and say, 'We fought all the way to the end and we have a chance to win it.' That's all you can do."