Morning Box Score: Sox Still Alive Edition

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Sep 29, 2008 2:45PM

Needing a win to stay alive in the playoff hunt, the White Sox on Sunday rediscovered the win column after nearly a week of losing. The White Sox might have guessed that luck was on their side Sunday when the Indians scratched likely AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee from his scheduled start in a do-or-die game for the South Siders. By beating the Cleveland Indians 5-1 on the official last day of the regular season, the Sox ensured they'll get to play at least one more day.

Mark Buerle pitched seven strong innings, allowing just one run while striking out six. The Sox ace picked up his 15th win of the season, delivering in the clutch. Offensively, Paul Konerko continued his suddenly hot hitting by slugging his fourth homer of the series while Jermaine Dye drove in two runs despite not going yard for the first time against the Indians.

Winning on Sunday was essential because the Minnesota Twins closed out their season with a win over the Kansas City Royals. With the two teams now tied in the loss column and the Sox one game back in the win column, the final game of the rain soaked Detroit series from two weekends ago comes into play.

The White Sox will host the Tigers at U.S. Cellular this afternoon (1:05 p.m. on WGN) to play their 162nd game regular season game, and for the second straight day the Sox will play for their lives. If the Sox can win against the Tigers today, they will then welcome the Twins to town on Tueday. Winner of that game would win the division, while the loser goes home. The Sox sure haven't played like they deserve to go to the postseason of late, but they remain alive -- for now.

AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast