Playoff baseball for both Chicago Major League baseball teams, White Sox and Cubs, offer delight, especially with a good start. The White Sox interrupted their slide of recent defeats in game one of the playoffs Tuesday on the West Coast. The Sox, seeded No. 7 after falling from a top four seed on the last day of the regular season, reinforced pitching is the top priority in playoff baseball.
The Sox, led by Lucas Giolito, of no-hit fame earlier this season, and three relief pitchers, provided for a 4-1 victory over No. 2 seed Oakland. Baseball, especially in postseason, offers the promise that anything can happen.
Giolito pitched seven strong innings, gave up the only run, and was succeeded by three relief pitchers who combined to surrender no runs in two innings.
The Cubs and the Sox were set to play Wednesday, including the first game for the host Cubs, in the best of three games for all of the eight games.
Home run power generated all four Sox runs, including a two-run home run by Sox first baseman and American League Most Valuable Player Award winner candidate, Jose Abreu. That is the same Jose Abreu which some rumors suggested in the last two years that the Sox should trade the 30-something leader and superb player for youth. What? Egg on their faces for those who thought a trade was a good idea, no doubt. The final standing for Cubs and Sox first-round playoff baseball will be available without delay.
• The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has made adjustments in postseason play in two Fall sports to expand from regional tournaments to sectional tournaments. There will be no State Tournament series in any Fall sports, however, boys and girls golf, and boys and girls cross country, will have a second round, sectional tournaments. The IHSA meeting September 23 provided the advancement of sectional tournaments.
The IHSA executive director Craig Anderson said: “Given the relative success we have had safely conducting cross country and golf (outdoor sports) this Fall, the Board asked our staff (members) during the meeting September 14 to explore the possibility of expanding beyond regionals to conduct sectionals.”