Heat Emitted

Jim Thome took a 2-1 offering by Kyle Farnsworth into the left-center field bleachers. The home run; Thome's 542nd wall clearer, put the White Sox up for good in the bottom of the eighth. Thome has hit home runs in the 3 of his 4 opening day starts with the White Sox. Thome said he was looking for a pitch over the plate to drive up the middle. With a 20 mph gust out to straight away center, all Thome could do was pray for such a pitch. On a 2-0 count from Farnsworth, Thome got that pitch; and took it. He said he wasn't sure if he would see such a pitch again. Thome's monster hack saw the ball sail some 420 feet into the center field bleachers.
Thome went 3-4 and is hoping this is just the beginning of good things to come. For the club of course. Jim Thome has never been one to self-promote. Some 37, 499 packed into the Cell to watch Bobby Jenks close things out for the 'good guys'. Mayor Daley was on-hand celebrating the Southsiders victory.
Gavin Floyd takes the rubber tomorrow evening against Kansas City. First pitch 7:11 pm. Tickets available, as always through www.stubhub.com . Also, be sure to stop by Grandstand near the ballpark to pick up some licensed MLB White Sox apparel.

A Royal Pain

37,499 braved the cold this afternoon making their way out to US Cellular for the opening of the 2009 season.

Mark Buehrle worked 5 innings and found himself in jams essentially all 5 of those innings. Royals third base standout Alex Gordon was responsible for both Kansas City runs; homering in the 2nd and knocking in a run in the 5th on a fielders choice.

The Sox had 3 consecutive hits in the bottom of the 2nd that did not lead to a run. Josh Fields eventually singled in the lone run for the Southsiders with 2 outs.

Richards, Dotel and presumably Thorton will finish up for the Sox this afternoon. With runners on the corners and 2 outs in the eighth, Jim Thome who is 2-3 will try to pump some heat into the 40 degree weather.

"Say it ain't snow...say it ain't snow."

Mark Buehrle will be making his seventh opening day start today at 1:05 pm against the Kansas City Royals. Buehrle will tie Billy Pierce for most opening day starts by a Sox hurler. Hopefully the southpaw will fair better than his 2008 opening day start in which he was battered by the Clevland Indians for seven runs in a 10-8 loss. Buehrle and the Southsiders were scheduled to take the field yesterday for the beginning of their 2009 campaign. Weather however, proved the difference as Roger Bossard determined the field was not ideal for baseball. It was the first time in over a quarter of a century that baseball was postponed for opening day Southsiders.
This is how the White Sox will take the field today:

1. Dewayne Wise CF
2. Chris Getz 2B
3. Carlos Quentin LF
4. Jim Thome DH
5. Jermaine Dye RF
6. Paul Konerko 1B
7. A.J Pierzynski C
8. Alexi Ramirez SS
9. Josh Fields 3B

Enzo's pick to click is Chris Getz.

Final Score: White Sox 4 Royals 1

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