Jim Thome HR Powers White Sox to al central title

Jim Thome’s 7th inning home run provided the only score of the game as the Chicago White Sox edged the Minnesota Twins 1-0 to win their 1 game playoff for the AL Central title.  The White Sox joined their crosstown rivals from Wrigley Field in baseball’s postseason, and will now head to Tampa to face the Rays while the Cubs open their series against the Dodgers at home on Wednesday night.  It’s the first time that both Chicago baseball teams have been in the postseason together since 1906.

John Danks got the win for the White Sox, pitching 8 innings of 2 hit baseball before Bobby Jenks came on in the 9th for his 30th save of the season.  Nick Blackburn took the loss despite pitching well, scattering four hits over 6 1/3 innings of work.  Unfortunately, he served up Thome’s home run which provided the margin of victory and cost Minnesota the game.

The unsung hero of the night was the much maligned Ken Griffey, Jr.  who saved a run with an epic throw from center field that cut down Michael Cuddyer at the plate in the fifth inning.  Griffey came to the White Sox from Cincinnati in hopes of playing in the postseason, and his timely assist may have helped facilitate just that.  Griffey now has 154 career assists from the outfield, best among active players.

The White Sox had home field advantage on basis of a coin flip conducted earlier this month and that may have also help decide the outcome—while Chicago manhandled Minnesota at U.S. Cellular Field this season going 8-2 they struggled mightily at the Metrodome, posting a 1-8 mark.  They were only 35-46 on the road this season and that doesn’t bode well entering a series against Tampa who had the best home mark in baseball at 57-24. 

Boston will travel to Southern California on Wednesday night to face the LA Angels in the other AL playoff series.  Over in the National league, Milwaukee and Philadelphia also get their series underway on Wednesday.