Destiny changes her socks

October 24, 2005
CHICAGO -- OK, Boston baseball fans. You've seen this before. You know what this is about. The planets are aligned. The baseball gods are walking hand-in-hand with another team that hasn't won a World Series in a long, long while.
It's true. White is the new Red. The White Sox of 2005 are the Red Sox of 2004. They are diamond destiny's children.
The South Siders did it again last night, beating the Astros in Game 2, 7-6, on a walkoff homer by leadoff man Scott Podsednik, a guy who didn't hit a home run during the regular season.
Chi-town is bonkers and breathless as the Pale Hose creep closer to their first World Series victory since 1917. Getting all the breaks, winners of nine of 10 postseason games, the White Sox look like they are destined to bury the Black Sox scandal of 1919.
Ozzie Guillen's men trailed, 4-2, last night, then took the lead on a seventh-inning grand slam by Paul Konerko. After Big Country closer Bobby Jenks surrendered the lead in the top of the ninth, making it 6-6, Podsednik won the game with a one-out solo homer off Astros closer Brad Lidge.
This was right up there with Kirk Gibson in 1988 and Carlton Fisk in 1975. It was the 14th walkoff home run in World Series history. Podsednik's only other homer this year came against the Red Sox in the Division Series.
''This one came at a good time," said Podsednik. ''To go out and hit one out of the ballpark for a game-winner is pretty much indescribable. Luckily, I got in a good hitter's count [2 and 1]. It was a good pitch to hit and I was able to drive it out."
It was the second game-losing blast given up by Lidge in less than a week. St. Louis's Albert Pujols did the same thing to him in the fifth game of the NL Championship Series.
''We'll bounce back," said Astros manager Phil Garner. ''A lot of things are going their way right now."
That is for sure. The White Sox got the big break when they needed it in Game 2 of the ALCS against the Angels. The umpires blew a call in Chicago's favor and the call stood. In the ALCS clincher, the umps reversed a call (correctly) in Chicago's favor. And last night they made another mistake, awarding Jermaine Dye first base on a pitch that hit the outfielder's bat -- just before Konerko's grand slam.
Sometimes the larger forces are with you. That time is now in the South Side of Chicago.
Watching Jenks blow the lead in the ninth would have been deflating for most teams. No problem for the White Sox. They simply sat back and waited for another miracle. Podsednik delivered.

Source: http://www.boston.com/