No wonder the Houston Astros wanted the retractable roof on Minute Maid Park closed for Game 3 of the World Series on Tuesday night: Their stars were out of alignment as they tried to derail the White Sox.
Tried futilely, as the Sox took a commanding three games-to-none lead in the Series as they moved inexorably toward their first world championship since 1917 by beating the Astros 7-5 in 14 innings in a game that ended at 1:20 a.m.
Little-used reserve Geoff Blum hit a two-out solo home run in the 14th inning, and the Sox added a run on Chris Widger’s bases-loaded walk.
With the Sox running out of pitchers, much-maligned reliever Damaso Marte came on in the bottom of the 13th and earned the victory, working into the 14th. Mark Buehrle, who pitched seven innings in Sunday’s Game 2, came in to get the final out in the 14th.
No team in World Series history has recovered from a 3-0 deficit. Only one of 26 previous major-league teams has blown a 3-0 lead in any seven-game series.
Both teams had late chances. Houston put runners on first and third with one out, but Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez reprised his magic act from the Boston series, pitching around three walks and his own throwing error. His bases-loaded strikeout of Morgan Ensberg sent the game to extra innings.
The Sox “small-balled” their way into a chance in the 11th when Scott Podsednik led off with a single and stole second. But he stayed there as Tadahito Iguchi lined to right and Jermaine Dye struck out. After an intentional walk to Paul Konerko, Timo Perez bounced out as a pinch-hitter for pitcher Luis Vizcaino, whose spot had come up as the result of an earlier double-switch.
The Sox scored five times against 20-game winner Roy Oswalt in the fifth inning but couldn’t score again until the 14th. And the bullpen couldn’t hold a 5-4 lead for Jon Garland in the eighth. Jason Lane delivered a run-scoring double off Dustin Hermanson to tie the game. Hermanson hadn’t pitched since Sept. 30.
The Sox will go for the clincher by sending Freddy Garcia to the mound in Game 4 Wednesday night.
