White Sox even up ALCS with contentious victory
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-13 14:51

Scioscia was visibly angry after the game, still baffled by the call.

"When an umpire rings him up with a fist, he's out," he said.

STARTED WELL

The opportunistic White Sox nearly wasted a superb outing by pitcher Mark Buehrle, who pitched all nine innings and allowed just one run on a Robb Quinlan fifth-inning homer to tie the game.

Chicago had started well and opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when lead-off hitter Scott Podsednik smacked an easy grounder back to pitcher Jarrod Washburn, who threw wildly over first, allowing the White Sox left fielder to reach second.

After a sacrifice by Tadahito Iguchi moved the runner to third, Jermaine Dye drove in the run with a grounder to shortstop.

In the second, the White Sox almost extended their lead when lead-off man Aaron Rowand hit a line-drive double into the right field corner that Vladimir Guerrero had trouble tracking down.

Rowand slid safely into third and was waved home as Guerrero's throw missed both cut-off men, but third baseman Quinlan scooped up the loose ball and threw out Rowand at the plate.

More sloppy base running led to a needless doubly play in the seventh, belying the White Sox's reputation this year as a team that prided themselves in playing "small-ball" style that employed bunts, stolen bases and a solid defense.

Both teams wasted several other chances, with the Angels leaving four men on base and the White Sox seven.