Drabek Keeps Sox In Hunt M’S Lose When Cora Is Out At Home
Their owner notwithstanding, the Chicago White Sox haven’t given up on the season.
“If we keep playing like this, we have a good shot at getting back into the race,” right fielder Dave Martinez said Sunday night after his throw to the plate preserved a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
The White Sox pulled within three games of first-place Cleveland in the A.L. Central, 10 days after the big trade in which they sent three top pitchers to San Francisco for six prospects in a house-cleaning by owner Jerry Reinsdorf. At that time, the White Sox trailed the Indians by 3-1/2 games and Reinsdorf said he thought his team had no chance to catch Cleveland.
Doug Drabek allowed two hits over eight innings and Norberto Martin drove in two runs as the White Sox beat the Mariners for the second straight time.
Drabek (9-7) struck out a season-high seven and walked only one. He lost his shutout when Ken Griffey Jr. led off the seventh with a 473-foot shot into the upper deck in right field, his 36th homer. Griffey’s shot ended a string of 14 straight scoreless innings.
But Chuck McElroy struck out Griffey in the ninth after the Mariners put runners on first and third with no outs. Then, after Matt Karchner relieved, Edgar Martinez hit a short fly to Martinez. He threw home to catcher Jorge Fabregas, who tagged out Joey Cora for a game-ending double play.
“He made a good throw. I was out,” Cora said.
“I was coming up throwing,” Martinez said. “I saw him run after I threw the ball. When Jorge caught the ball, I knew he was out.”
Drabek won his third straight decision. Over the last 28 innings, he has given up three earned runs.
“Because I don’t have a good fastball, it seems to take me longer to find a rhythm with my curveball and sinker,” Drabek said. “I’m throwing good now.”
Omar Olivares (6-7) was impressed with his opponent.
“He kept us off-balance and didn’t make many mistakes.”
Chicago scored runs in the first and second off Olivares. Olivares gave up six hits and two runs while striking out three and walking four before being replaced by Norm Charlton with two out in the seventh.
Mariners notes
A full day after the first ejection of his major league career, Alex Rodriguez was being teased by players from his own team and the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.
And players from both teams agreed on one thing - umpire Ray DiMuro had missed the play at the plate when he called Rodriguez out Saturday. When DiMuro called Rodriguez out on a third strike later in the game, Rodriguez tied Ken Griffey Jr.’s career record for ejections.
“I’ve got one, now he’s got one,” Junior said. “I’ve got one in spring training, too, though, and he doesn’t.”
Players, coaches and both managers knew better than to talk about an umpire on the record - for fear not only of a healthy fine from the league but from retribution on the field, too.
Mired in a 3-for-19 slump, outfielder Jay Buhner wasn’t in the starting lineup Sunday after playing in each of the first 114 games. “We had a day game Saturday, so this is almost like two days off for him,” Piniella said. “He just needs a breather, and we need him as fresh as we can get him.”
Dan Wilson started his 100th game of the season at catcher, the second-highest total in the American League this season. Texas All-Star Ivan Rodriguez has started 105 - and no other catcher in the A.L. has started more than 85.
Seattle begins a two-game series with Milwaukee with a 7:05 p.m. game today in the Kingdome that will be televised on Fox Sports Northwest. Probable pitchers: Cal Eldred (11-11; 4.94) vs. Jamie Moyer (11-4; 4.27).
MEMO: Cut in the Spokane edition.