Buehrle’s Swansong Beautifully Scripted

Mark Buehrle may have pitched his last game in a Chicago White Sox uniform. If he has, what a way to go out.

Maybe a divison title would have sweetened the pot, even a World Championship for those of us who dared to dream this year, but seven vintage Buehrle innings and win No. 161 will have to do.

Buehrle’s fifth out marked the 200-inning plateau for the lefty, the 11th consecutive year he’s achieved the milestone for the White Sox.

With rain falling steadily, Buehrle walked out to the mound alone in the top of the eighth. Interim manager/pitching coach for all of Buehrle’s tenure Don Cooper wasn’t far behind, holding the ball. He and Buehrle tugged over it for a moment, then Cooper took the ball, gave Buehrle a hug, and the White Sox ace walked off to a standing ovation. There may have been fewer than 15,000 actually there to show him appreciation, but Buehrle is a humble cat and it meant everything to him.

He got his first curtain call and perhaps his final victory in a legendary White Sox career.

Chris Sale got out of an inherited mess and worked a perfect ninth to nail down the save.

A no-hitter, a perfect game and a World Championshp. If Buehrle is indeed gone after this season, what a career it’s been.