Showdown Series (Act 1)

White Sox 7, Tigers 1.

When Sox broadcaster Hawk Harrelson can legitimately say that this 3-game set in mid-July in the first meaningful series in the history of Comerica Park, you have to question the logic that says the Sox are the ones who need to be feeling the pressure.

And they certainly played like all the tension was in the Detroit dugout, coming up with 6 run-scoring hits with 2 outs. None was bigger than Paul Konerko's three-run shot to the opposite field off Jason Grilli (former Sox hurler) to put the game out of reach in the 7th inning.

Jon Garland, meanwhile, improved to 9-3 and continued to display flashes of his pre-2005 All-Star break form. Over his last two starts he has gone 7+ innings while allowing just one run in each. Factoring out the debacles of his first two starts of the year (when he allowed 7 & 9 runs respectively yet still escaped with a 1-0 record), his record is 8-2 with a respectable 4.25 ERA. At the moment, he is the most reliable arm in the rotation, with Jose Contreras right behind him.

But, in between Contreras and Garland lies the man, the myth, the mystery - Javy Vazquez. There was a time when he led the staff in wins. No, seriously, there was.

Sox up the record to 58-34, 3.5 back. Game 2 tomorrow night, 6:05 PM CT.