Afternoon Box Score: White Sox Stung

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Oct 2, 2008 10:30PM

Javier Vasquez pitched exactly as we feared he would in Game One of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing six runs in 4 1/3 innings. The erratic Sox starter dug the team into a hole from which they couldn't recover before losing 6-4 Wednesday afternoon.

Vasquez's biggest nemesis was somebody we thought was a cast member of Desperate Housewives, but apparently we were mistaken. Evan Longoria, the Rays' rookie sensation, almost single handedly beat the White Sox. Longoria initiated the game's scoring by homering in the second inning off Sox starter Vasquez, and then add a second dinger in the third inning. He drove in another run in the fifth on a single, as well. OK, maybe he does deserve the Rookie of the Year award over Alexei Ramirez.

The Sox got the majority of their offense from Dewayne Wise who slugged a three-run homer in the top of the third inning that momentarily gave the South Siders a 3-1 lead, before Longoria and company retook the lead for good in the bottom of the inning. A ninth inning homer by Paul Konerko was too little too late for the Sox to pull out Game One.

The Sox and Rays face off tomorrow in Game Two, which will feature Mark Buehrle opposing Scott Kazmir. We feel a little better about that matchup. Meanwhile, the Cubs and Dodgers take the field at Wrigley later this evening with the city of Chicago still looking for its first 2008 playoff victory.

AP Photo/Chris O'Meara