Finally...

..I got laid last night! First time in nearly a month. More on that later.

And the Sox break their losing streak. The top 4 in the batting order combined for 8 hits and 5 runs. Uribe had 3 RBI, including a deep homer, but it was Carlos Lee who was the spark -- again. Rowland had a triple. Ozzie's made a few wise moves this season that have gone unoticed - a good example was last night when he put in Gload to pinch run, and then scored by inches. Garland's only rough spot was the third, where Pena hit a grand slam... Ledezma was throwing into the 90s, but gave up 5 earned runs in 6 innings. He looked strong thru 5. Maybe he has recovered from that elbow stress fracture - need to keep eye on him. The Sox were just too much, getting solid hits with runner on base - that's smart baseball and that's how you win games.

Final game of the series tonight before traveling to Cleveland. Buehrle faces Robertson.

The Twins lost, so the Sox are now 8 back, and a game under .500. The Tribe continued their losing streak with another loss to the Yankees.

DOWN ON THE FARM:

(AAA- Charlotte Knights): Lost 5-3 in 15 innings in a game that took 4 and half hours to play. Not a whole lot of bright spots other than starting pitcher Felix Diaz going 6 strong innings, giving up 2 earned runs and striking out 6. Off day today.

(AA - Birmingham Barons): Beat Hunstville against, 3-2. Aaron McNeil was 3for4. Dennis Ulacia gets the win, 6 innings and giving up just one run, striking out 4. Sasser's on a mini-hot streak - got another hit and had a stolen base. The Barons have an off day today as well.

(A - Winston-Salem Warthogs): Hogs beat Lynchburg 3-0. Reynoso gave up just one hit in 5 scoreless innings - maybe he's ready to move up? Like I said yesterday, he looks like a guy to really keep an eye on... The Hogs added three solo homer runs, including Darren Blakely, who leads he league with 21. The two teams meet again tonight in Lynchburg with RHP Kenny Ray on the mound, looking for win #11.

(A - Kannapolis Intimidators): ..snapped a three-game losing steak by beating Hagerstown. Rafael Flores had a strong outing, 5 1/3 scoreless innings and holding the Suns to just 3 hits while striking out 4. They're in Charleston tonight.

(Rookie - Bristol White Sox): ..lost the final game of the year 16-4. Michael Swain was 2for4. The pitching line looks awful, as Matt Nachreiner gives up 7 earned runs in 4 innings, but at least he struck out 7. His relief, Justin Roelle, can't even say that much - giving up 6 runs in 2 and 2/3rds. The team finished the year dead last in the Western Division.

(Rookie - Great Falls White Sox): A big 15-4 win at Provo. IB Chris Kelly goes 5for6, RF Tom Collaro goes 4for6 including 2 homers and drives in 7 runs. Liotta's on the mound tonight in Provo for the Sox, his numBers look good, so I'll watch this one closely.

Back on the north side of Chicago, there's a real battle going on between the Cub and Mayor Daley over the "structural integrity" of Wrigley Field. The Cub have won, for now... I spoke with my cousin last night, a lifeolong Sox fan who grew up on the southside, got straight A's at MIT and did the same as a grad student at Stanford, and is now a structural engineer out in San Francisco, retrofitting old buildings to make them safe in case of an earthquake. Sexy stuff. He said the falling concrete is due to the steel underneath beginning to fail. Structural Engineering 101, I guess. I'll keep you updated on his take on this...

I'll get to see the falling concrete for myself today - I'm heading out to Wrigley this afternoon for my third and likely last Cub game of the season. My ticket connection, a stand-up comedian, is making the plunge and moving to NYC in a few weeks. He gets his Cub tickets from his father-in-law in Iowa, who's a season ticket holder and only comes in for the big games and weekends - he gives the rest away. A few tickets fall to my pal.

I have to be back in the Loop 5ish for a company function at a bar. Maybe I'll get lucky with one of the cuties from the call center.

Last night I had some drunken steamy sex. Not as drunk or as sweaty as I usually like, but it'll do. One of the usual suspects... How detailed should I get?

Also, got the go-ahead from upper managment for a department work function next tuesday night - we're heading out to Comiskey Park to see the Sox take on Oakland. Likely, we'll be in the bleachers. Only my second trip to the south side ball yard this year - the first was a weekday loss back in July to Minnesota.

Bio tomorrow. I promise.