The best of the 1st half

The Sox provided many surprises through the first 85 games of the 2012 season. The biggest surprise of all is probably the fact that they have finished the half in first place by 3 games.

Here are the five games (in no order) that stood out the most in a fun first half.



1. April 7: The first win on the 2012 campaign came with the help of Alex Rios. He blasted a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning with the game tied at three against the Texas Rangers. The home run came off Sox villain, Joe Nathan for the 4-3 win.

2. April 21: Phil Humber threw the 21st perfect game in MLB history and 3rd in White Sox franchise history in the 4-0 win against the Seattle Mariners. Humber struck out nine hitters and only threw 96 pitches.

3. May 30: In what could be one of the oddest games of the year, the Sox won their 8th game in a row over the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-3. Jose Quintana was thrown out in the 4th inning for throwing behind Ben Zobrist in retaliation for A.J. being plunked. Ventura was ejected as well. What will be the most memorable will be Hawk's epic rant on home plate umpire Mark Wegner that put Hawk in hot water with MLB.

4. June 28: Dayan Viciedo hit a go-ahead three run home run in the top of the 9th inning against the New York Yankees to lift the Sox to a 4-3 win that kicked off a four game series in New York.

5. July 4: Newly acquired Kevin Youkilis hit a walk off RBI single in the 10th to give the Sox a 5-4 win over the Texas Rangers. The night after the Sox pounded the Rangers 19-2, the Sox dug themselves an early 3-0 hole in the first inning. The Sox battled back with a four spot in the second and needed extras to finish off the two time AL Champions.

Walk off!

They sure have been fun to watch so far. (Well maybe aside from a crap stretch they had in late April.) It's looking like Jose Quintana will start the first game against the Royals to start the 2nd half. Jake Peavy and Chris Sale are expected to follow.