Great Series Between Chisox and Rangers

The White Sox and Rangers came into this series with identical (and lousy) 14-19 records, as they both hoped to end the season on a high note. A battle royale was raged, with each game won by a narrow margin and two of them going to extra frames. The Rangers end up taking three of four, as the Chisox avoided a four-game sweep with late game heroics in game four from Greg "The Bull" Luzinski.


Game One: TEX 3, CHIW 2
W: Russell (1-0)
L: Thigpen (1-2)

Lamar Hoyt carried a slim 1-0 lead into the seventh before the Rangers struck for two, the big blow a two-run single by Gary Ward. But back came the White Sox in the eighth on Harold Baines' seventh homer of the year, a solo shot off the Ranger's tough Jon Matlack. But the Rangers won it with an RBI in the bottom of the eighth, as Scott Fletcher (who played for both clubs) doubled and scored on a two-out single between third and short by Buddy Bell.

Game Two: TEX 6, CHIW 5, 11 innings
W: Russell (2-0)
L: Thigpen (1-3)

This time out, Chicago struck for three early runs as Rudy Law hit his first homer and Greg Walker stuck a double off the wall that scored another. But Floyd Bannister allowed the Rangers back in the game, as Ruben Sierra doubled to lead the rally. The Rangers got two more in the eighth to take a 5-3 lead. But closer Jim Kern was a wild man in the ninth, walking three to help Chicago tie it. In the 11th, Sierra gave Texas the victory with a leadoff homer over the rightfield wall, his first. Sierra went three-for-six with two RBIs and two runs scored, his best game of the year.

Game Three: TEX 5, CHIW 3
W: Harris (2-0)
L: Lamp (1-2)
S: Russell (7)

Once again, Chicago had the lead into the late innings, a 3-1 edge behind Tom Seaver, who was pitching a gem. Again, the Rangers struck late, as that man Ruben Sierra keyed the comeback by slamming a double off the rightfield wall that scored two to break a tie and win the game.

Game Four: CHIW 2, TEX 1, 11 innings
W: Thigpen (2-3)
L: Russell (2-1)

A terrific pitching duel between Chicago's Britt Burns and Texas's Doc Medich leads to a 1-1 tie after nine, as both starters pitch into the eighth inning. Greg Luzinski unties it off reliever Jeff Russell (who figured in a win or save in every game of this series) by pouncing on a fastball for his seventh homer of the year for a walkoff victory in the 11th.