White Sox waste opportunities to take control

Wed., Oct. 12, 2005

Associated Press

CHICAGO – Well-rested, playing in front of a loud home crowd and with their top pitcher on the mound against a road-weary team, the White Sox had everything lined up for a quick start in the A.L. Championship Series.

At least, that’s how it seemed.

Now, the home field advantage the White Sox earned is gone after a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels in Tuesday’s opener.

The team with the league’s best regular-season record struggled with its offense against the well-traveled Angels and had trouble coming up with big hits and getting down timely bunts.

For example: Needing a run and a big hit in the eighth, their top run producer Paul Konerko flied out with two on.

Needing a sacrifice in the ninth after Carl Everett reached on an error to start the inning, Aaron Rowand bunted into a force and a potential rally fizzled.

The White Sox wasted a strong pitching effort by Jose Contreras against a team that had flown cross-country Sunday night from New York and then back to Chicago early Tuesday morning from California, arriving as most people were headed to work.

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White Sox waste opportunities to take control

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

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