Hanni + White Sox = Winners!

White Sox fans who found out Hanni was coming with me to Monday’s game against the Tigers, and then again to last night’s game against the Twins, all told me to make sure she brought home a winner.

And she did it. Figuratively, and literally. Monday’s do-or-die game against the Tigers had a three-hour rain delay, I had to have someone from guest services accompany us outside towards the end of the three hours so Hanni could “empty” before the game started. And, good girl that she is, She did it. Right outside White Sox Park.

I have never, ever endured such a long rain delay Before, but…wow! Was it worth it! A grand slam Monday meant we beat the Tigers and could play the game last night against the Minnesota Twins. Mike couldn’t join us Monday afternoon because he had
to work, and tickets for the Tuesday night game against the Twins sold out in one hour. Hanni to the rescue again! I called the park yesterday morning, asked if they still had any handicapped seating available (Hanni needs the leg room, of course! and…voila! Mike was able to come with us last night, too, along with two other friends.

Thank you, Hanni.. Last night’s do-or-die game against the Twins was one of the best baseball games I’ve ever been to. Two reasons why: first, the pitchers from the Sox and the Twins each pitched outstanding games, real nail biters. That meant the fans were on each & every pitch, so i could judge the pitch count just by the reaction of the crowd. Second, the game was so last-minute that Major League Baseball didn’t have time to reserve special tickets for dignitaries and celebrities., Behind us were a bunch of union plumbers and electricians who had bought last-minute standing-room-only seats — it sure seemed all the fans there were pretty “normal.”
Except for Hanni, I guess.
The game was very, very fun. Well, okay, it was *especially* fun after Thome hit his home run – we ended up winning one to nothing, which means THE WHITE SOX ARE GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS!

Hanni was pretty excited and animated during both games. After Thome’s home run last night, though, one of the union guys behind me poked my shoulder and yelled (he had to yell, the park was so loud with cheering) into my ear, “Your dog is sleeping!” I felt down, and sure enough, Hanni was curled into a ball, sawing logs. She had done her job, so to speak, and was confident the White Sox would win.

For those of you who aren’t baseball fans, let me try to explain why the White Sox had to win three different games, against three different ballclubs, during the last three days, in order to get into the playoffs this year. No, wait. I’m too exhausted to explain. Let me leave you with a blurb from MLB Headlines instead. I’ll paste it below and close this post with one of my favorite salutations: Go, go, White Sox!

Chicago, IL — (Sports Network) – Alexei Ramirez slugged a grand slam to break a tie in the sixth inning and Chicago steamrolled Detroit, 8-2, in a make-up
contest from U.S. Cellular Field.

The extra tilt was necessary after the clubs’ September 13 game was postponed due to rain. As a result, the White Sox came into action trailing the AL Central-leading
Twins by a half-game.

Jermaine Dye knocked in a pair while A.J. Pierzynski collected two hits and drove in a run for the White Sox (88-74), who will host Minnesota for a one-
game playoff Tuesday to determine the division winner. Whoever comes away victorious will face the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays beginning Thursday.

Chicago is expected to send John Danks to the hill facing Minnesota’s Nick Blackburn for a 7:30 p.m. (et) start.

“Tomorrow will be just like today,” said Pierzynski. “We win or go home. It’s that simple and I am glad we are playing here.”