White Sox vs. Twins: win or go home
Last Updated: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 | 12:21 PM ET
CBC Sports
Minnesota right-hander Nick Blackburn opposes Chicago lefty John Danks in Tuesday's playoff game. One game. Win or go home.
After 162 games, the American League Central division title is still up for grabs, but the suspense will finally end Tuesday evening when the Chicago White Sox host the Minnesota Twins in a one-game, winner-take-all playoff to decide the division winner.
Chicago fans have rookie Alexei Ramirez to thank for keeping the team's playoff hopes alive.
It was Ramirez's grand slam in the sixth inning that helped the White Sox roll over the Detroit Tigers 8-2 in Monday's makeup game.
The victory moved the White Sox (88-74) into a first-place tie with the Twins, setting the stage for the playoff game in Chicago.
Tuesday's winner travels to Florida to open a best-of-five AL Division Series on Thursday against the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays, who are making their first playoff appearance in the team's 11-year history.
"Get your rest. That's all. And take the next game the way they approach every game," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen told MLB.com when asked what he told his team after Monday's win. "A lot of people are gonna be nervous, some people might lose sleep, but be ready to show up to the ballpark tomorrow and be ready to win the game.
"Look yourself in the mirror and tell yourself, 'We fight all the way through the end and we have a chance to win it. That's all you can do, and don't change the way you play or try to do too much. Just go out there and perform the way you have been performing and everything else will take care of itself.'"
Rookie steps up to mound
Another rookie will have a chance to shine, this time on the mound, as Minnesota right-hander Nick Blackburn (11-10) opposes lefty John Danks (11-9).
Blackburn has a 2-2 record and 5.67 earned-run average in five starts versus the White Sox, while Danks has fared even worse against the Twins, going 1-1 in four starts with a 7.93 ERA.
However, a pitching duel could materialize, considering the Chicago forecast calls for single-digit temperatures, a stiff breeze and a 30 per cent chance of rain.
Rain delayed the start of Monday's contest against the Tigers by three hours and four minutes.
If the Twins win Tuesday, it would be their fifth AL Central crown in the last eight years (2002-04, 2006). The White Sox last took the division title en route to winning the 2005 World Series.
Chicago won the right to host the tiebreaker game via coin flip earlier this month. That could be a huge break for the Sox, considering they lost eight of nine games in Minnesota this season. The Twins are 2-7 in Chicago, and 35-46 on the road this season.
Tuesday's contest will be only the fourth one-game tiebreaker in American League history and the first since 1995 when the Seattle Mariners defeated the California Angels. The National League had a one-game playoff last year when the Colorado Rockies defeated the San Diego Padres in 13 innings.
