The Chicago White Sox gained bragging rights this year as they topped the Chicago Cubs 5-0 today at Wrigley Field and won the season series 4-2.  White Sox rookie pitcher Carlos Torres gained his first major league win by going seven strong innings while giving up five hits, with six strikeouts, and no walks.  Torres showed great poise and control while pitching from the stretch the whole game, a rare thing to see from a starting pitcher.

Torres got some help from the White Sox offense as they had 13 hits with A.J. Pierzynski, Paul Konerko, Carlos Quentin, and Alexei Ramirez each getting an RBI for the White Sox.  Torres also got help from the Cubs defense, or lack-there-of, as the Cubs recorded two errors.  Jake Fox flat out missed a pick off attempt to first by pitcher Ryan Dempster which moved Chris Getz into scoring position who then scored on a Ramirez single.  Alfonso Soriano’s error in the 8^th cost the Cubs a run as well.  Soriano turned an everyday fly ball from Pierzynski into a three base error allowing Gordon Beckham to score from first.

The White Sox have now won two in a row after today’s victory and a rare win at their final game ever in the Minnesota Twins’ Metrodome on Wednesday.  This seems to be too little too late for the White Sox, as they went 3-8 on this road trip and are now 7 games back of the Detroit Tigers and 2 games back of the second place Twins.  With 27 games left to play, it seems as if the White Sox have played their way out of contention.

White Sox fans have to wonder why manager Ozzie Guillen had not gone to Torres earlier in the season, as he was 10-4 with a 2.39 ERA in 23 games for AAA Charlotte.  The recently traded Jose Contreras was a disaster this year and with Torres showing such strong numbers in AAA, it couldn’t have hurt to get him a few starts earlier this season.

The White Sox did well to keep 22-year old righty starting pitcher Dan Hudson when the Padres came calling with Jake Peavy. Hudson was the #24 rated prospect in the White Sox’ system coming into this season according to Baseball America but he will be moving way up that list with the way he is pitching this season. Hudson has started 20 games in A+AA ball this season and he is 11-5 with a 2.30 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. Hudson has only allowed 80 hits in 117 1/3 innings this season and he has whiffed 135 batters which shows what kind of stuff he has. Hudson also has uncanny control for a pitcher his age as he has only walked 24 batters so far this season. Look for Hudson to get a September callup by the White Sox as long as he continues to pitch well the rest of the season.

The White Sox have recalled 24-year old lefty starting pitcher Clayton Richard to replace Jose Contreras in the starting rotation. He will make his major league debut tomorrow. Richard was supposed to pitch on the Olympic team for the USA next month but his job comes first and that’s with the White Sox. Richard has started 19 games in AA+AAA ball this season and he is 12-6 with a 2.44 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. He has only allowed 91 hits while walking only 20 batters in 121.2 innings pitched this season. It will be interesting to see how well Richard pitches as he was not a highly rated prospect coming into this season.

24-year old righty starting pitcher Lance Broadway has been getting hit hard in AAA ball this season. He has pitched in 19 games (18 starts) in AAA this season and he is 8-5 with a 4.21 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. He has allowed 135 hits (17 of them homers) in 117.2 innings this season and that will not inspire the White Sox’ brass to give him a chance if they need a starting pitcher later this season.

25-year old 3B Josh Fields is blocked at the major league level by Joe Crede who is having a great season. It will be interesting to see if the White Sox either move Crede or Fields at the trade deadline to get whatever they think they need to contend. Fields has played in 50 games in A+AAA ball this season and he is 47 for 184 (.255 avg, .816 OPS) with 28 runs scored, 8 homers and 27 RBIs. Fields is a very marketable player if the White Sox want to put him on the trading block. He played in 100 games last season for the White Sox and he was 91 for 373 (.244 avg, .788 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 23 homers and 67 RBIs. Fields did whiff 125 times last season for the White Sox and unless that changes he likely won’t be able to hit for a good average in the majors, but no one can doubt his power.