Game #71 Rays at White Sox September 30, 2012

I always go to the last Sox game of the season. Usually, the Sox are lined up around the field signing autographs, but because the Sox were still in the division race, they weren't doing that. But Hector Santiago stopped outside.

And so did Jose Quintana.

Here's fellow-Northwest Indiana native and I forget his name! I feel terrible. As soon as I finish writing this, it will come to me.

I did have a great interaction with Sean Rodriguez, Rays infielder. He had an autism bracelet on, and I told him I taught at a school for kids with autism. He told me his son has autism, and we spoke for a while about that. Sometimes it's easier to assume that these baseball players fight all their battles on the diamond, but they have personal struggles as well.

Addison Reed signing.

Nate Jones signing.

Alexei Ramirez

A.J. Pierzynski and Jose Quintana

Here's Longoria. Before the game, I yelled that I just wanted to shake his hand. He ran right up to me and said, "Hi, I'm Evan. It's nice to meet you." I was delighted.

But here he is grounding into a double play.

Rays pitchers walking to the bullpen.

The great David Price on the mound for the Rays.

DeWayne Wise singled in the first.

Evan Longoria

The hand Evan Longoria shook.

Here's Paul Konerko. He singled in the second.

Evan

These guys were on fire! Sox fans knew that the Sox needed to win every single game to have a chance of staying in the race.

The Rays scored three runs in the fourth when Ryan Roberts homered.

Youkilis and Konerko singled in the bottom of the fourth.

Then Alex Rios singled, driving in Youk.

These guys were still going strong.

Pierzynski was hit by a pitch.

Then Viciedo hit a sacrifice fly, driving in Konerko.

The Rays had a 3-2 lead going into the fifth, and then B.J. Upton started the inning with a double, so Robin brought in Nate Jones to relieve.

Ben Zobrist walked, and then Longoria doubled, driving in Upton.

We were freezing to death, so we moved to the sunny area behind the Sox bullpen. Here's Addison Reed.

Brett Myers came in to pitch the 7th.

And here's Carlos Pena, who came in to play first base in the eighth.

DeWayne Wise walked but that was it.

The Sox dugout

Evan

Addison Reed came on to pitch the ninth, and Upton homered.

The Rays won, 6-2.

But here's Francisco, the nicest man alive.

To cheer up, Angela and I visited Wrigley. And we found Steve Clevenger's car, so I left a note.

And yes, I am wearing a Sox shirt at Wrigley. What a weirdo.

 All of my pictures from this game can be found at http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151097495448786.442972.511233785&type=3