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CHICAGO -- Mark Buehrle¡¯s r¨¦sum¨¦ 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.¡¯¡±