email this
print this
CHARLES REX ARBOGAST / Associated Press
Jim Thome celebrates after Chicago's 1-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins in a playoff for the division title. White Sox starter John Danks gave up just two hits in eight innings.
SAVE AND SHARE
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Thome's late homer sends Sox to ALDS
CHICAGO - Thanks to Jim Thome's bat and Ken Griffey Jr.'s arm, the AL Central has a winner at last: the Chicago White Sox.
John Danks pitched eight innings of two-hit ball on short rest, Thome homered, and Griffey threw out a runner at the plate with a tough tag by A.J. Pierzynski, helping Chicago beat the Minnesota Twins, 1-0, in a 163d-game tiebreaker for the division title last night.
The White Sox joined the crosstown Cubs in the postseason, the first time since 1906 that both Chicago teams are in.
Next up for the South Siders is a first-round matchup with the surprising Rays. Game 1 is tomorrow at Tampa Bay, which won the AL East.
"Look at this," Thome said as the crowd roared all around him. "This is what it's all about - October baseball."
The White Sox got a huge boost from two of their oldest players: Thome and Griffey, both longing for their first World Series championship.
Thome's long drive on a 2-2 pitch from rookie Nick Blackburn cleared two rows of shrubs in center field, traveling an estimated 461 feet in the seventh. It was the 541st homer for Thome, who raised his right fist as he rounded first base. The former Phillie had not been to the playoffs since 2001 with Cleveland.
Griffey, who came to the White Sox in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds so he could have a chance at playing in the postseason, cut down Michael Cuddyer with a throw in the fifth. Griffey, who like Thome is 38, will make is first postseason appearance since 1997 with Seattle.
Bobby Jenks worked a perfect ninth for his 30th save in 34 chances. Centerfielder Brian Anderson ended it with a diving catch of Alexi Casilla's blooper.
Soon after the game was over, Pierzynski, Danks and Nick Swisher grabbed a microphone on the field and addressed the delirious crowd.
"That's a battle between friends," Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said, referring to the rival Twins. "We just got the last laugh."
Danks, pitching on three days' rest for the first time in his career and with just one win in his previous seven starts, held the Twins hitless through the first four innings on a 56-degree night. Cuddyer led off the fifth with a double and moved to third on Delmon Young's fly to center.
When Brendan Harris hit a fly to Griffey in shallow center, Cuddyer took off for the plate. He crashed into Pierzynski, who held on to the two-hop throw from Griffey while tagging Cuddyer for the out. Pierzynski then popped up and showed the ball as the crowd of 40,354 - mostly dressed in black - roared.
Danks (12-9) won the duel with Blackburn (11-11), who retired 13 of 14 before Thome led off the seventh with his long homer.
