M's, Sox provide Golden Entertainment to Open KOD Silver Anniversary

Game #1, August 12

CHICAGO – Freddy “The Younger” Garcia (1-0), was dominant for Seattle in a season-opening 6-0 victory on the South Side of Chicago. Garcia had a no-hitter rolling until A. J. Pierzynski greeted him in the 6^th with a lead-off single. Meanwhile the Mariners offense had garnered him a 4-0 lead on a Mike Cameron RBI single in the 1^st, a 2-RBI double by Dan Wilson in the 6^th, and a RBI single by Ichiro Suzuki (3 hits), also in the 6^th. Garcia would leave mop-up duty to the bullpen after 7 1/3 IP. The Navigators tagged on two more runs with an IF out in the 8^th and a Stan Javier (1) belt in the 9^th. Mark Buehrle (0-1) stated and lost for the White Sox.

Game #2, August 13

CHICAGO – Mike Cameron’s (1) 8^th inning solo blast turned out to be the kind of insurance Seattle needed as they held on for a thrilling 7-6 winner. The Mariners pounded Sox starter Jon Garland (0-1) for 6 runs in the first 2 innings. Edgar Martinez doubled home Suzuki in the 1^st. In the 2^nd, Garland’s 3 free passes combined with 4 singles led to 9 batters coming to the plate and 5 runs being scored. Mark McLemore’s 2-run single being the biggest blow. Chicago’s Paul Konerko (1) got one back in the B2 with a solo shot off Navs starter Aaron Sele (1-0). Pierzynski (1) got 3 more back with a 3-run bomb in the 4^th. It remained 6-4 until Cameron’s clout made it 7-4, setting up a dramatic B9^th. PH Frank Thomas (1) greeted Arthur Rhodes with a long one to LF to start the inning. Joe Crede fanned and Pablo Ozuno was thrown out attempting to bunt his way on. Then Juan Uribe doubled and Scott Podsednik singled him home, 7-6. Kazuhiro Sasaki (1) was called upon, but he hit Aaron Rowand with a pitch after Podsednik had swiped 2^nd base. But there would be no joy at “The Cell,” mighty Jermaine Dye struck out.   

Game #3, August 14

CHICAGO –  Jermaine Dye was at the plate with 2 outs in the B9th with runners at first and second. Sound familiar? Slight differences - the score was tied 4-4 and Jose Paniagua was on the mound. BIG difference - Dye (1) didn’t miss a stitch of the baseball as he deposited it 437-feet away from home plate into the LCF stands for a 7-4 White Sox walk-off winner. Dustin Hermanson (1-0), at the end of a string of 7 ChiSox hurlers, was the winner. Ryan Franklin (0-1) took the loss. How did we get there? Starters Jamie Moyer and Jose Contreras locked in a pretty good pitcher’s duel through 6 innings with Chicago holding a 2-1 edge. Uribe (1) and Ozuna (1) had gone yard for the Sox. Crede (1) added another homer leading off the 7^th and Uribe added an RBI single to give the home club a 4-1 lead. John Olerud doubled in Martinez in the 8^th to tighten it up. Seattle led off the T9 with 3 straight singles from Al Martin, Suzuki and McLemore (3 hits) against two hapless Chicago relievers; Martin scoring on McLemore’s poke. Hermanson entered and got Bret Boone to fly out, but Martinez singled in Suzuki to tie the game. Olerud struck out and Cameron flied out to send it to the B9 tied at 4-4. Uribe (3 hits) hit a 1-out knock, followed by Podsednik’s single. Rowand flied out setting up Dye’s dramatics.