It was an improvement from the 33 runs the Cardinals allowed the first two games of the series against the White Sox. Rookie starter Anthony Reyes went eight full innings giving up just one hit. That should be enough to win any game, right?
Wrong! Sox starter Freddy Garcia matched Reyes’ performance allowing only four hits in eight innings. The difference… Garcia pitched a shutout while the one hit Reyes surrendered was a solo homer to Jim Thome in the seventh giving Chicago a 1-0 win. Bobby Jenks continued the dominant pitching slamming the door in the ninth to get the save.
The White Sox were without manager Ozzie Guillen who was serving a one game suspension. It didn’t matter, the defending World Series champions found a way to win, which they’ve done in seven straight games including a three game sweep of the Redbirds.
Albert Pujols was in the lineup for the first time since June 4, but was ineffective going 0-for-4.