2005 American League Championship Series

2005 American League Championship Series

Team (Wins) Manager Season Chicago White Sox (4) Ozzie Guillén 99–63, .611, GA: 6 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (1) Mike Scioscia 95–67, .586, GA: 7
Dates:	October 11 – 16
MVP:	Paul Konerko (Chicago)
Television:	Fox
TV announcers:	Joe Buck, Tim McCarver and Lou Piniella
Radio:	ESPN
Radio announcers:	Jon Miller and Joe Morgan
Umpires:	Jerry Crawford, Doug Eddings, Ted Barrett, Ron Kulpa, Ed Rapuano, Randy Marsh
ALDS:	Chicago White Sox over Boston Red Sox (3–0)
	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim over New York Yankees (3–2)
< 2004 ALCS 2006 >
2005 World Series

The 2005 American League Championship Series (ALCS), the second round of the 2005 American League playoffs, matched the Central Division champion Chicago White Sox against the West Division champion Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The White Sox, by virtue of having the best record in the AL during the 2005 season, had the home-field advantage. The White Sox won the series four games to one to become the American League champions, and faced the Houston Astros in the 2005 World Series; as a result of the 2005 All-Star Game played in Detroit, Michigan at Comerica Park on July 12, the White Sox had home-field advantage in the World Series. The series was notable both for a controversial call in Game 2 of the series, and the outstanding pitching and durability of Chicago's starting rotation, pitching four consecutive complete games; the  ²⁄₃ of an inning Neal Cotts pitched in the first game was the only work the White Sox bullpen saw the entire series.

The White Sox and Angels were victorious in the AL Division Series (ALDS), with the White Sox defeating the defending World Champion and wild card qualifier Boston Red Sox three games to none, and the Angels defeating the Eastern Division champion New York Yankees three games to two.

Summary

Chicago White Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Chicago won the series, 4–1.

Game summaries

Game 1

Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Illinois

In the series opener, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim won 3–2 in their third game in as many nights and as many cities. The Angels took the lead in the second inning on a Garret Anderson home run. The Angels added two more runs in the third, and then José Contreras allowed no more runs, going 8 ¹⁄₃ innings. The White Sox tried to chip away at the lead, but only managed to score two runs on seven hits. The Angel relievers were able to hold the Sox scoreless. It was the first time in six tries that the Angels won a Game 1 under Mike Scioscia, despite the fact that they won the World Series in 2002. This was the only game the White Sox would lose in the entire postseason.

Game 2

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Illinois

Before the game then-senator and future President of the United States Barack Obama threw out the Ceremonial First Pitch. Behind a complete game from Mark Buehrle and a now infamous strikeout in the bottom of the ninth, the White Sox evened the series at a game apiece. The Sox took advantage of an Angels error and drew first blood in the first inning. The game remained 1–0 until an Angels HR in the fifth tied it 1–1. Then with the score still tied and two out in the bottom of the ninth, with two strikes, A.J. Pierzynski swung at a low pitch from Angels pitcher Kelvim Escobar and missed, for strike three. Josh Paul, the Angels catcher, rolled the ball to the mound and left the infield. Pierzynski realized strike three had been called but he had not been called out, and he ran to first base in case the umpire had ruled that the Angels catcher had not legally caught the strike three pitch (see Uncaught third strike rule).^[6] In a controversial call, home-plate umpire Doug Eddings ruled that the ball hit the ground and then went into the catcher's glove,^[7] so the pitch was considered uncaught and Pierzynski was safe at first. A pinch-runner, Pablo Ozuna, replaced Pierzynski and stole second base. Third baseman Joe Crede delivered a base hit three pitches later, scoring Ozuna for the winning run.

Game 3

Friday, October 14, 2005 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, California

Paul Konerko's two-run homer in the first inning provided a Chicago lead that the Angels could never overcome, despite a two-run home run by Orlando Cabrera in the sixth, as the White Sox took the series lead, two games to one, with Jon Garland pitching a complete game.

Game 4

Saturday, October 15, 2005 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, California

Freddy García pitched the White Sox' third straight complete game and Paul Konerko hit his second consecutive first-inning home run to give the South Siders the lead. A.J. Pierzynski also homered in the fourth inning, helping put the White Sox one win from their first World Series visit since 1959. The controversy continued in this game. Konerko's three-run first-inning blast came after a disputed check swing on a 2–2 pitch. Later in the game, with the White Sox leading 3–1, the Angels put men on first and third for Steve Finley, who hit a ground ball to second for an inning-ending double play. He argued that White Sox catcher A. J. Pierzynski had interfered with his swing. In the later innings, with the White Sox leading 5–1, Scott Podsednik stole second and later scored.

Game 5

Sunday, October 16, 2005 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, California

Joe Crede led the way with his home run, and José Contreras pitched the fourth consecutive complete game by a White Sox pitcher, Chicago won the ALCS and their first American League pennant since 1959. This also marked the first time in 77 years that a team threw four straight complete-game victories in the playoffs, and the first time that it was done by four different pitchers since the Chicago Cubs did it in the 1907 World Series.

Paul Konerko was named the ALCS MVP. He finished the series batting .286, with two home runs and seven RBIs. His two home runs came in the first innings of Games 3 and 4; he is only the third player in major league history to hit home runs in the first inning of consecutive playoff games, the other two having been Dan Ford during the 1979 ALCS and Carlos Beltrán during the 2004 NLCS.^[8]

Composite box

2005 ALCS (4–1): Chicago White Sox over Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Series quotes

All quotes are by Joe Buck of Fox Sports unless otherwise noted.

Escobar, another strikeout..Pierzynski is going down to first. The Angels are already off the field. The home plate umpire never made a call and safe is Pierzynski.

— A. J. Pierzynski's controversial strike out in the ninth inning of Game 2

And that's into the left field corner. This ball is off the wall, the White Sox have won, and this only begins what will be an argument.

— Joe Crede's game-winning hit after A. J. Pierzynski's controversial strike out.

Ground ball to first, the White Sox have won the pennant!

— The last out.

Swing and a ground ball to first, Konerko has it. He steps on the bag! The White Sox have won the pennant! They won the pennant! A White Sox winner, and they're going to the World Series!

— John Rooney on the White Sox radio network calling the same moment as above.

Notes

External links

• 2005 ALCS at Baseball Reference