Peavy dealing, yet again. (David Richard-US PRESSWIRE)

White Sox: 8
Indians: 1

If I were to tell you that an inning that started with an Adam Dunn walk and that he would then be put in motion with Paulie at the plate, assuming you hadn’t already been made aware of the score, the only end scenarios you’d be able to picture would likely be with Dunn being tagged out. On this particular night, the gods smiled down on the pale hose and Paul Konerko poked the pitch into right field to begin a merry-go-round inning that would result in 10 men coming to the plate and a big 6 spot going on the board.

After the 4th inning pounding, Jeanmar Gomez would have to wear it, remaining in the game to pitch into the 7th. He wore it well, not allowing any more runs and saving his teams bullpen for their trip into Fenway for a 4 game series beginning tomorrow.

Everybody needs to take a moment or two to think about how impressive Jake Peavy has been so far. As the season started, Jake gave the same bulldog comments about how he’s ready to compete and feeling healthy again. Things we’ve heard since we acquired him. We’ve even seen glimpses of a dominant Peavy in previous seasons, but right now we are definitely seeing the man we traded for. Media outlets everywhere are constantly comparing 2012 Jake to 2007 Jake. If the health holds, we’ve got ourselves a true ace.

Plus: Offense. A Dunn bomb and one huge inning may have been the only tallies, but even outside of that balls were hit hard and guys were swinging well. Next up: consistency.

Minus: I’m not sure if it was a Ventura decision all the way but I got the distinct feeling that Peavy bullied the skipper into letting him stay in the game through the 7th to let the shutout get away. Not that the shutout is too important, though the Indians have yet to be shutout this season, but I’d like to know that the manager is going to stand strong against an insistent Jake. There are going to be lots of times he won’t want to come out of the game when he probably should. That health I was talking about? It’s not going to stay if Robin lets him throw 140 pitches a night just so he doesn’t have to hear Jake swear at him.

Tipping Point:
The game was well in hand by the time the Sox had their biggest inning of the season. Adam Dunn’s HR in the first was worth a 17.2% shift in run expectancy.

Source: FanGraphs

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1. De Aza – CF
2. Gordo – 2B
3. Dunn – DH
4. Paulie – 1B
5. AJ – C
6. Rios – RF
7. Alexei – SS
8. Viciedo – LF
9. Morel Escobar – 3B (sore back for Morel)

Last night could have been much more frustrating than it was, but with Alex Rios to the rescue (if I get too used to saying that he’ll make me pay, I know it) we now have a shot at a split. And considering how this series started, that ain’t so bad.

The young Jeanmar Gomez will start for Cleveland. We’ve seen him this year for a couple of innings and he struck out 3 without giving up a hit. Don’t expect that to keep up, not without a lineup full of Brents (which one am I taking the jab at?!!?).

Judging by how many times we’ve already faced the Indians this year, once we wrap up this series we shouldn’t be due to match up again until 2015.

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Tonight he’ll face off against Jeanmar Gomez, who has had a few handfuls of starts over the past 2 seasons in Cleveland and has failed to impress just yet. He’s only 24 years old so he’s got time to figure it out if the Indians are willing to give it to him let’s just hope he doesn’t get any big ideas for a while though.

White Sox Lineup:

Beckham – 2B
Rios – RF
Dunn – DH
Konerko – 1B
Fukudome – CF
Ramirez – SS
Viciedo – LF
Flowers – C
Morel – 3B

Another new lineup and also an interesting one. Gordo leading off? Whatever you say, Robin. Fukudome gets a start in CF against his former squad in place of Alejandro De Aza leaving an opening for the lead-off spot. Personally I’m probably letting Rios sit this one out rather than pushing him up to the 2 spot but my guess is the skipper knows something I don’t know.

I know many of us have had a good time poking fun of the “Appreciate the Game” slogan for the 2012 Sox, but in listening to some of the Indians radio feed during the game last night, it would appear they are going with “What If?” So if all else fails, at least we’ve got them beat there.

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