The White Sox didn't lead this game until a cavalcade of relievers from 35th and Shields' past showed up.
The Sox had tied the game by erasing a 3-0 lead over the course of the third inning, and Jose Abreu chased Milwaukee starter Chase Anderson with a two-out single in the sixth.
In came Boone Logan to face Daniel Palka. He issued a five-pitch walk.
In came Matt Albers to face Tim Anderson. Albers, who entered the game with a 1.08 ERA, looked like the guy who had a 6.31 ERA with the Sox in 2016. He gave up a sinking liner that turned into a triple after Christian Yelich couldn't block it, which gave the Sox a 5-3 lead. Omar Narvaez then added to Albers' ERA with the third two-out hit of the inning.
The Brewers never threatened again, but the Sox tacked on two more runs in the seventh against … Dan Jennings. Everybody's ERA came away worse for the wear:
- Logan: 4.91 to 6.14
- Albers: 1.08 to 1.42
- Jennings: 2.45 to 3.04
Conversely, the White Sox benefited from spectacular relief work, which they needed after Hector Santiago's abbreviated outing. The Sox trailed three batters in after Santiago gave up a two-run blast to Ryan Braun. He stranded the bases loaded after issuing three two-out walks in the second, then gave up a sacrifice fly in the third.
After the Sox tied the game with three in the bottom of the third, Rick Renteria didn't take any chances. He pulled Santiago after a one-out walk -- his fifth of the game -- put runners on first and second.
In came Chris Volstad, who induced a couple of groundouts to strand the runners. In the process, he started a run of 5⅔ scoreless and hitless innings. He, Luis Avilan, Joakim Soria and Nate Jones held the Brewers to just three walks while striking out five.
Soria was the best of the bunch, as he confused the Brewers' right-handed hitters by dropping down and throwing effective curves and fastballs from a low arm slot. He struck out two during a perfect 12-pitch seventh.
The White Sox scored eight runs runs with three crooked numbers without a homer. The third inning changed the tenor of the game.
Adam Engel led off with a double into the left-field corner, then scored when Charlie Tilson slapped a grounder through the middle. Tilson swiped second, and when it looked like he'd stay there on Trayce Thompson's grounder to the left side, he instead scored when third baseman Travis Shaw randomly threw wide of first and into the camera well, which brought Tilson home.
Yoan Moncada then shot a single to center to score Thompson, although he was cut down between first and second when the throw home was cut off. Nevertheless, the Sox tied the game at 3 and changed the pitching staff's mission.
That was one of two White Sox baserunning outs on the night. Jose Abreu had the other one when he tried coming home from second on Palka "infield single." The ball was on the outfield grass due to the shift, and the Sox probably hoped that the diving Hernan Perez wouldn't be able to gather it in a composed fashion. But nope, Perez made a strong throw home and Abreu didn't even bother sliding.
Bullet points:
*The White Sox went 6-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
*Every White Sox had a hit, and they only struck out three times on the evening.
*Danny Farquhar made a triumphant return to Guaranteed Rate Field and threw out the first pitch of the game to Nate Jones.
*Jones ended the game with a strikeout and kept the ball with the intent of giving it to his friend.
Record: 17-37 | Box score
