It’s in keeping with Chicago’s macho self-image that the city would import winter weather for the Fall Classic.
Raw, damp, blustery conditions formed a bone-chilling backdrop for Game 2 of the World Series on Sunday night at U.S. Cellular Field, but there’s no cooling off these White Sox.
Scott Podsednik, who did not hit a home run in the regular season, hit his second of the playoffs with one out in the ninth to give the Sox a spine-tingling 7-6 win over the Astros and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Series, which resumes Tuesday night in Houston.
The drizzle-soaked crowd of 41,402 erupted in delirium after Podsednik drove Houston closer Brad Lidge’s 2-0 pitch out to right-center field, and they were on their feet chanting, laughing and yelling long after the Sox had wrapped up their home-plate celebration.
“The feeling is pretty much indescribable,” Podsednik said.
The victory atoned for a costly bullpen failure. Paul Konerko’s dramatic grand slam had erased a 4-2 deficit and given the Sox a 6-4 lead in the seventh inning. But Bobby Jenks, the burgeoning folk hero who had nailed down the Game 1 victory, surrendered a two-out, two-run single to ex-Cub Jose Vizcaino as the Astros tied the game in the ninth.
Houston’s bullpen had failed starter Andy Pettitte as well. Reliever Dan Wheeler loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, Jermaine Dye reaching when he was hit by a pitch that appeared to hit his bat first.
Foul ball, right? When it’s going your way …
Chad Qualls replaced Wheeler, and Konerko jumped all over his first pitch.
You sensed it was going to be a Chicago kind of night when the great Lou Rawls delivered an inimitable version of the national anthem in his distinctively soulful Chicago baritone.
Konerko and Podsednik, Chicago guys even if they only work here, took it from there.
