Black Sox Beat Writer
Chicago Sports Online
The Chicago Black Sox kicked off their second incarnation in the Windy City with an Opening Night victory over California and a sellout crowd despite a frigid evening at the team’s sparkling new stadium in Calumet City.
Chicago beat the California Crusaders 5-3 on the strength of a strong outing from starter Juan Nicto, solid bullpen support, and a 4-run 6th inning keyed by a 14-pitch at-bat from first baseman Mark Simpson that ended in an RBI single.
Nicto pitched 5.2 innings and allowed 3 runs on 7 hits with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts on a 39-degree evening with an 11-mph-wind blowing in from left.
“Yeah, it was a little nippy out there – we knew we weren’t in Huntsville anymore, that’s for sure,” Nicto said.
For comparison’s sake, last season’s home opener in Alabama was played on a relatively comfortable 55-degree evening.
“Aw, c’mon. There’s nothing more invigorating than April baseball in Chicago, right?” said an ebullient Vinnie Vitale, who bought the team in late 2038 and then announced he would move the team back to Illinois after a 20-year dalliance with Huntsville.
“What’s a little wind chill among friends?”
Black Sox fans braved 34-degree wind chills at opening night win over California
California, whose players looked miserable in the 34-degree wind chill conditions, drew first blood, scoring two runs in the top of the third and one in the top of the 6th.
Baseball historians will note that Crusader second baseman Claudio Defazio scored the first run ever in the new Black Sox Park. He reached on a walk by Nicto and then scored on a double by center fielder Po-sin Shi, who recorded the first RBI in the new stadium.
The Black Sox struck back in the bottom of the 6th, though, when third baseman Luis González singled to left, then moved to second on a walk to DH Tommy Cochran.
That set up a remarkable battle between first baseman Simpson, signed to a rich offseason free agent contract, and California starter Miguel Ramos. Simpson fouled off seven straight pitches, drew a ball, then fouled off three more pitches before working the count full. A visibly frustrated Ramos then fired a cut fastball, but Simpson hammered a scorching groundball past the shortstop for a single that scored González.
An error by third baseman Luis Lucero filled the bases, and a walk to rookie center fielder Jim Lorenzen brought in a second run.
Reliever Marco Vitalle replaced Ramos on the mound, but the new pitcher walked catcher Hotha Popo to tie the score and then yielded the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly to left by right fielder Manny Cleide.
Chicago’s bullpen blanked California the rest of the way and the Sox added a final run in the bottom of the 8th to put the historic contest in the books as a “W” for the once, future and present Black Sox.
“It’s just one game,” Vitale said, “but here’s hoping it’s the start of something great for my home city.
“And, speaking of something great – think Southside Towing Service for all your vehicular removal needs!”
