Loss number 101. The Tigers only managed 4 hits in this one, and a decent pitching performance by Nate Cornejo went to waste (five walks though). Danny Patterson couldn’t keep things close, and what was a one run lead going into the eighth turned into a rout.
One guy that continues to amaze me is Tom “Flash” Gordon. This guy has been throwing forever, and every time you think he’s done with an injury, he’s back a year or two later throwing just as hard. I remember seeing Gordon throw his rookie year when he split time between being a reliever and being a starter. He won 17 games that first season, which he never did match. Gordon finished second in the ROY of the voting, losing out to Orioles closer Gregg Olson
He did have a great season in 1989 as the closer for Boston (in fact, Gagne I believe is still chasing his consecutive save record), and was even immortalized by Stephen King in one of his thrillers, aptly named “The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon,” which was an excellent but short book by the master of horror.
I expect Gordon to be a pivotal piece in the last month of the season for the White Sox. I predicted a few weeks ago that the Sox would come out on top in the AL West, and I’m going to go a step further and give you a teaser for my playoff preview. If the White Sox win the division, they’ll go on to play the Giants in the World Series. This lineup is that good.