A no-no, a perfecto and ... a save: Buehrle remembers

This story was excerpted from Scott Merkin's White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- Mark Buehrle’s résumé features 524 appearances, including the regular season and postseason -- and one career save.

That save has become one part famous and one part infamous.

It came in Game 3 of the 2005 World Series, which the White Sox swept from the Astros in four games to claim the championship. Buehrle recorded only one out during this 7-5, 14-inning victory, but the real question is: How many alcoholic beverages had Buehrle consumed before taking the mound? That topic has been discussed by teammates, coaches and even Buehrle over the years.

Buehrle had started Game 2 at home on Oct. 23, working seven innings and throwing 100 pitches, so there was virtually no chance he’d get the ball again on Oct. 25 in Houston.

Or so it appeared.

As part of our recent conversation, Buehrle explained this outing having taken on a life of its own for 18 1/2 years. His talks with pitching coach Don Cooper about being needed came as Game 3 progressed, as the White Sox used seven relievers.

“Yes, I did have a few beverages on the bench, and I went up to Cooper in the sixth, seventh or eighth inning. I don’t remember what it was,” Buehrle said. “They were starting to use the bullpen. This guy came in for a third of an inning and this guy came in for a third, so it was getting thinner and thinner there.

“I’m like, ‘Will you need me?’ and Coop said, ‘No.’ So I go get another beer. I did that a few times, and it was like, when he said, ‘Yeah, get [your] crap on,’ I thought he was just saying it because he was sick of me asking him. I got ready and went down there.

“The rest is history.”

How many beers did Buehrle consume on a night when his (eventually retired) number didn’t figure to be called? His guess is three or four.

Said Buehrle: “It wasn’t like [catcher] A.J. [Pierzynski] said, where I was hammered. There have been other starts where I was feeling a little bit better than that one. Other games where I would get my [butt] handed to me in the first inning or two, I would have to maybe partake in a beverage just so I wouldn’t put my fist through the wall.”

When I asked if those drinks came after he had been lifted from a game, Buehrle said, “Maybe.”

“Maybe during,” he added with a laugh.

Let’s not lose the real focus of this performance. Buehrle produced outstanding individual numbers, with 214 victories, a perfect game against the Rays in 2009, a no-hitter vs. the Rangers in 2007 and 14 straight seasons with at least 200 innings pitched, 30 starts and double-digit victories. But he always was “team first,” and he always enjoyed his job.

He retired Houston’s Adam Everett on a 1-1 popup to shortstop Juan Uribe with runners on first and third to finish the biggest game (at that time) in franchise history.

“Incredible,” said Buehrle of how that final out of Game 3 felt. “We were up by one or two, there were two guys on. In Houston that left-field wall is 100 feet from the mound. I remember [Chris Widger] called for a cutter, and I’m like, ‘Don’t leave this over the middle of the plate. If he hits a home run, it’s a walk-off. I have to make a quality pitch.’”