If any Sox fans thought the BP Crosstown Cup might help clean up this oil spill of a season, the initial results were naturally disastrous. The White Sox lost to the Cubs 11-2, a result fueled by some familiar pollutants: bad starting pitching, bad situational hitting, bad baserunning, and bad luck.
After a couple starts in which it seemed like Carson Fulmer had stanched the flow of baserunners, he drilled to deeper depths than ever, giving up 5 runs over on 3 hits, 4 walks, and a hit-by-pitch over 1 2/3 innings.
To be fair, Fulmer did get squeezed on a crucial plate appearance against Kyle Schwarber in the first inning. He looked to have Schwarber K’d on two different pitches, but the umpiring crew decided Yung Babe checked his swing on the first and Fulmer missed low on the second, eventually putting Schwarber on first base with a walk. Of course, the walk was Fulmer’s fourth baserunner of the inning and set up Willson Contreras’s explosive grand slam, so perhaps Fulmer doesn’t deserve our fairness.
The Cubs exited the first inning with a 5-0 lead, poisoning the well in what might otherwise have been an interesting game. Cubs starter Tyler Chatwood battled control problems, walking five in 5 innings, but he managed to plug the leaks before too many runs gushed out.
The Sox didn't do themselves any favors, as less-than-slick baserunning cost them two rallies. In the third, Matt Davidson and Tim Anderson walked to lead off the inning, but Davidson got picked off second by Contreras when Hector Santiago pulled back a bunt attempt. And in the fifth, Schwarber threw Nicky Delmonico out at home on an extremely aggressive send by third base coach Nick Capra.
There was more baseball played, but if you missed this game trust me when I say that it’s better you don’t have all the toxic details. Nonetheless, here are a few additional lowlights:
*Daniel Palka missed a pop-up with a 99% catch probability, giving Mark Zagunis (the Cubs' Daniel Palka) a very dumb double.
*In total, the Cubs got three hits on balls with a greater than 89% chance of a being an out.
*The Sox' team WHIP was 2.00, so 11 runs may have been a lucky result.
*Contreras finished 4 for 5 with two homers, two doubles, and seven RBI.
*Here are a couple tweets that sum up my feelings:
Least favorite game I've ever had the displeasure of watching.
— Andy! (@asroka) May 11, 2018
For White Sox fans covered in this messy season, one thing is clear: there’s no relief on the (deepwater) horizon.
