The Los Angeles Angels will have plenty of time to rest. Right now, they're too busy winning.
Paul Byrd pitched effectively in a pinch, Garret Anderson homered and the travel-weary Angels edged the Chicago White Sox 3-2 Tuesday night in the opener of the AL championship series.
The Angels were supposed to be more than a little jet-lagged. Sunday night, they were on the East Coast, playing the Yankees. Monday night, they were back on the West Coast, beating New York. Now, they're in the Midwest, with no off-day until Thursday.
PHOTO: AFP
Seeking their first World Series berth in 46 years and first championship since 1917, the White Sox got another outstanding outing from Jose Contreras but couldn't manage much offense.
The Cuban right-hander worked into the ninth inning but lost for the first time since Aug. 15, ending his nine-start winning streak.
Chicago had won eight games in a row going back to the regular season, but fell short against a Los Angeles team playing in its third time zone in three nights.
Recovering from a throat infection and fever, Jarrod Washburn is slated to pitch Game 2 for the Angels on Wednesday night against All-Star starter Mark Buehrle.
Scot Shields retired slugger Paul Konerko with two on to end the eighth. Francisco Rodriguez worked around third baseman Chone Figgins' error to begin the bottom of the ninth and struck out Joe Crede to close it out. The Angels won Game 1 for the first time in six postseason series under manager Mike Scioscia.
The Angels lost in New York on Sunday, forcing them to fly cross-country overnight for a decisive Game 5. They made a pit stop at home for a series-clinching victory Monday night, then jumped on a redeye to the Midwest and arrived at their hotel around 6:30am Tuesday.
But Los Angeles was plenty fresh for the ALCS opener, thanks to Byrd and his bullpen.
The 34-year-old right-hander walked only 28 batters all season and his throwback delivery, with arms rocking back behind him like a right-handed Whitey Ford, belongs in a flickering old cut of black-and-white film footage.
A 12-game winner during the regular season, Byrd got the Game 1 start because he was the only option left.
The first-round series took a toll on Los Angeles' pitching staff, and ace Bartolo Colon was left off the ALCS roster because of a shoulder injury.
Working on only three days' rest after a short outing in Game 3 against the Yankees, Byrd slipped on the mound while throwing a first-inning pitch to leadoff batter Scott Podsednik, then held Chicago in check for six-plus innings to earn his first postseason victory.
He departed after hitting Aaron Rowand with a pitch to begin the bottom of the seventh, but Shields got six outs to set up Rodriguez for his third save of the postseason.
The White Sox attempted all sorts of tricks -- No. 3 hitter Jermaine Dye tried to bunt leading off the sixth but popped up to Byrd. Catcher A.J. Pierzynski tried to steal second in the seventh, but was thrown out.
Fireworks boomed before the game and video boards just below the upper deck flashed: "This is White Sox playoff country."
One sign in the stands read: "8 in a row. 8 to go. 88 yrs in the making."
Playing before a revved-up crowd of 40,659, the well-rested White Sox had been waiting at home since Saturday after sweeping defending champion Boston in the first round.
With their pitching rotation lined up perfectly, they were supposed to have an edge early in this series, but the AL Central champs were the ones who looked weary in the early going.
Similar styles carried the Angels and White Sox this far: Both rely on solid starting pitching and a deep bullpen, and they like to manufacture runs with bunts and aggressive baserunning.
That doesn't mean they can't play long ball, though.
Anderson led off the second inning with his third homer of the postseason -- he had a team-best seven RBIs in the first round.
Then the Angels went to what they do best. Adam Kennedy's hit-and-run single was followed by Figgins' sacrifice bunt, putting runners at second and third in the third.
Orlando Cabrera's slow bouncer scored Steve Finley, and third baseman Crede hesitated before throwing to first, allowing Cabrera to reach on an infield single.
Vladimir Guerrero bounced back to the mound, and Contreras tried for a double play instead of going home to get Kennedy. Cabrera's high slide bothered second baseman Tadahito Iguchi, who overthrew first base, and Los Angeles had a 3-0 lead on Guerrero's first RBI of the playoffs.
Crede homered in the bottom half, and Pierzynski concluded a feisty at-bat with a two-out RBI single in the fourth, cutting it to 3-2.
Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Jim Tracy was hired on Tuesday as the Pittsburgh Pirates' manager, AP learned from a source close to the team who requested anonymity.
Tracy, 49, was the front-runner from the start of the Pirates' search last week because of his long-standing ties to Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield, with whom he worked in the Montreal Expos' organization in the 1990s.
Tracy beat out the only two known candidates for the job, former Oakland Athletics manager Ken Macha and Atlanta Braves coach Fredi Gonzalez. Tracy replaces Lloyd McClendon, who was fired on Sept. 6 during his fifth consecutive losing season and was replaced for the rest of the season by bench coach Pete Mackanin, who was not considered for the job on a permanent basis.
Tracy managed the Dodgers from 2001 until the injury-riddled team finished 71-91 this season. The record was their second-worst since they moved from Brooklyn in 1958.
He finished with a 427-383 record, guided Los Angeles last year to its first division championship since 1995, and had only one losing season in five, but resigned last week after falling out with general manager Paul DePodesta.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely