ALCS Game #4

10/12 - Comiskey Park
White Sox 5, Tigers 0
When in doubt, trot Joe Horlen (8-2, 2.69) out.  The Chisox did not relish the thought of going down 3 games to 1 in this best of 7, so they decided to go to their ace Horlen, who pitched the opener.  Horlen gave them everything you would expect from your ace by going as far as he could go (5 2/3 IP) and not giving up a single run.  By the time he handed the ball off to the Sox pen his offense had also provided a nice 4-0 cushion thanks to the ineffective pitching of one Frank Castillo (5-3, 3.14).  Detroit's game 4 starter had overachieved all season and there was no reason not to believe that he wouldn't continue his mastery.  Chicago shot a hole in that theory in the bottom of the  first when Ken "F-Troop" Berry singled home 2 runs with 2 outs.  The inning started off very matter of fact with the table setters (Aparicio & Alomar) grounding out weakly.  Tommy Davis singled to right and Tommy McCraw double to right to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 out for Berry, who came through big time.  Chicago looked to add to their lead in the 4th when McCraw led off the inning with a stand up triple.  Berry came to the plate and hit a bullet back to the box reminicent of the same play that allowed Detroit to score the go ahead in game 2.  However this time the pitcher (Castillo) did the right thing and ran directly at McCraw, who was half way down the line.  A run down ensued and McCraw was eventually tagged out by catcher Paul Bako.  To make matters worse Berry remained on 1st and did not advance to second.  This would immediately harm the Chisox chances when the next batter, Pete Ward, grounded into a tailor made 4-6-3 DP.  If Berry was on second the double dip would never have happened and he would have easily been standing on 3rd base with 2 out.  Instead the inning was over and a golden opportunity to build on a 2-0 lead evaporated.  Ever the resilient team, Chicago came back to get 2 more runs in the following inning (5th).  By this point Castillo was fooling no one.  Josephson and Bradford hit long fly balls that took Hunter and Gonzalez, respectively, back to the wall.  With Horlen coming to the plate Castillo looked a sure bet to get out of the inning unscarred.   Horlen shocked the Tigers and probably himself by slicing an opposite field bomb into the right field corner.  With the outfield playing shallow for the pitcher the ball rattled around in the corner before Higginson could retrieve it.  Horlen, to his credit, never stopped running out of the box and wound up on third with a well earned three bagger.  Luis Aparicio followed that up with an RBI double and Alomar followed that with a hump backed liner to left center for an RBI single.  Castillo was able to finish out the inning (his last), but he left his compadres in a 4-0 hole.  Horlen, who was still winded from chugging around the bases with his triple was ineffective when he returned to the hill in the 6th.  After Gonzalez narrowly missed a homer and Randa grounded out Bako singled and pinch hitter Frank Catalanotto walked.  Chicago's manager had seen enough and realized that his starter was done.  Bob Priddy was brought in from the pen to retire Brian Hunter, who flew out weakly to left to end the threat.  In the bottom of the inning the Sox would get another lead off triple.  This time the batsman was Berry.  After Ward and Josephson lined out it looked like a repeat of the 4th.  Unfortunately for Detroit Bryce Florie would not have the same luck that Castillo had two innings earlier.  Buddy Bradford, the 8th place hitter, would be given an intentional pass as Priddy came to the plate.  A sound decision by Detroit to force Chicago to either let their pitcher bat or go to a pinch hitter.  Priddy was given the green light to hit, but he would not need to.  A rare double steal with runners on the corners was called.  Tiger catcher Paul  Bako immediate reaction was to throw down to second and get Bradford.  His throw was late and in the process Berry stole home to make it 5-0.  Priddy would give up just 1 hit in the 7th then give way to Don McMahon who got 2 outs to finish out the 8th.  Bob Locker would pitch a perfect 9th to preserve the lead and tie the series up at 2.  Chicago would get great production from their 3-4-5 hitters.  Davis (2-4), McCraw (3-4) and Berry (2-4) were on base early and often.  Detroit's 3-4-5 would go a combined 1-12, which turned out to be the difference maker.
Series tied 2-2