Morning Wood

Chicago White Sox 16 Pittsburgh Pirates 5

Maybe it was the first day off in over two weeks, or maybe it was the Pittsburgh Pirates pitching staff, but the White Sox offense looked quite refreshed on Tuesday night. Hell, maybe it was just Paul Konerko out of the lineup after being placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career. I'm more inclined to believe it was the Pirates pitching, though, as they do have that NL-worst 4.68 ERA.

Whatever the hell it was, I wouldn't mind seeing more of it in the future. Jermaine Dye, Joe Crede, Orlando Cabrera, and Jim Thome all went deep for the Sox, and only Jermaine's was a solo shot. He did manage to drive in two other runs in the first inning on a double, so I guess we'll forgive him for it.

Thome's homer was the 521st of his career and ties him with Ted Williams and Willie McCovey (they were decent) for 16th all time.

"Very, very special," Thome said Tuesday night. "You never imagine when you are thrown in with names [like] McCovey and Ted Williams. That's pretty neat. It really is. It was a nice night and we scored a lot of runs and it's even more special when you do that."

In fact, all four of them finished with three RBIs a piece while Carlos Quentin, Alexei Ramirez, and Nick Swisher drove in the rest. The only White Sox starter that didn't contribute to the team's 19 hits was CQ, but he still got on base three times via the walk.

Javier Vazquez had a shaky night, allowing all five Pirates runs in in six innings, but he managed to outperform Ian Snell. Snell was responsible for seven of the Sox runs, and managed to throw 106 pitches in only four innings of work. The six walks probably didn't help.

The Sox bullpen shut things down as usual, and Adam Russell pitched a perfect 9th inning in his Major League debut.

Tampa Bay Rays 3 Chicago Cubs 2

Scott Kazmir has been absolutely dominant for the Rays so far this season at home, and he was dominant again on Tuesday night, even if that dominance lasted only 4.2 innings. Kazmir struck out seven Cubs and allowed only 1 run, but all those Ks combined with four walks makes for a high pitch count.

Unfortunately for the Cubs, Tampa Bay's bullpen didn't make things much easier, allowing only 3 hits and a run in 4.1 innings. Evan Longoria homered in the 6th inning to break a 1-1 tie, and Neal Cotts' two-base throwing error in the 7th inning set up an insurance run the Rays would need after the Cubs scored another run in the 2nd.

Though it was that Longoria kid again who made a great play on a Reed Johnson bunt attempt with two outs in the 9th inning to end the game.

"Probably the best bunt play I have ever seen, capped off with the pick by Aybar," said Rays closer Troy Percival. "That ball right there, typically, is going to be bobbled just enough for the guy to be safe."

Oh, and Cliff Floyd loves to hit against Chicago teams, following his two home runs against the Sox a few weeks ago with one against his former team on Tuesday night. They make up for half the dingers he's hit this season.

NL

• Dodgers 3 Reds 1

MLB

• Orioles 6 Astros 5
• Yankees 8 Padres 0
• Red Sox 3 Phillies 0
• Brewers 7 Jays 0
• Rangers 7 Braves 5
• Twins 2 Nats 1
• Royals 2 Cardinals 1
• Rockies 10 Indians 2
• A's 15 DBacks 1
• Angels 6 Mets 1
• Mariners 5 Marlins 4
• Tigers 5 Giants 1