There was Ivan Rodriguez standing on first after his tying hit, pumping his arms. There was Marcus Thames rolling into second, knocking a guy down, breaking up a double play. There was reliever Joel Zumaya greeting the champs with gritted teeth and a 102-m.p.h. fastball, then capping his appearance with a thundering fist thrust that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
If this is what a pennant race sounds like, looks like and smells like, this is going to be one fascinating summer.
The White Sox wanted this series, even needed this series, and seemed poised to take it. The defending champions had every reason to be arrogant, every reason to expect they could grab the scruffy Tigers and drop them to the side.
Now the White Sox have every reason to be concerned.
The Tigers’ 2-1 victory gave them the series, a 64-31 record and a resounding 5 1/2-game lead. We know there are 10 games left against the White Sox, who are still 6-3 against the Tigers. But you’ve got to think Detroit knocked some haughtiness out of them.
Sometime after Craig Monroe crushed that grand slam Wednesday and sometime before Chris Shelton delivered the winning double off Jose Contreras on Thursday, something shifted.
Did you feel it?
You can bet the White Sox felt it, whether they admit it or not. You can bet the Tigers felt it, whether they realize it or not.
After Zumaya struck out Joe Crede to end the eighth, Crede stood and stared as Zumaya pumped his fist. Something’s percolating here, perfectly and appropriately.
“I don’t really care what anyone thinks,” Zumaya said. “I’m an emotional guy, and I don’t mean any disrespect. If [Crede] wants to look at it that way, that’s his problem.”
Unspoken from the White Sox: OK, enjoy it fellas. We’ll see you around all summer.
Unspoken from the Tigers: Fine. We’ll be right here.
