James Shields was so close getting out of a big jam in the sixth inning after allowing a triple to Brett Gardner. Making his 400th career start, Shields got Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Hicks to pop out in the infield. Needing just one more out, Shields threw an 89-mph fastball that just had too much of the plate, and Miguel Andujar made him pay. A mammoth two-run home run woke up the Bronx Bombers. Hick tied the game in the eighth with a two-run homer, and Neil Walker walked it off with a solo shot to give the Yankees a 5-4 win.
For the first five and a half innings, it was all White Sox. Shields only allowed one hit through five innings, and the offense finally generated some offense against Yankees starter Lance Lynn. The scoring started in the fifth inning when Avisail Garcia doubled down the left field line, but Gardner bobbled the ball in the corner allowing Nicky Delmonico to score all the way from first base.
Next inning the Sox were able to string four singles in-a-row to score three runs. Yoan Moncada started the rally with the first hit and advanced to third on Adam Engel's worm burner past Andujar. Runners on the corner, Yolmer Sanchez singled to center scoring Moncada, and Engel quickly made his way to third. However, nobody from the Yankees bothered to cover second base allowing Sanchez to advance. That was key at the moment because Delmonico's fly ball fell in front of Gardner to score both Engel and Sanchez making it 4-0 for the Sox.
After Shields allowed the home run to Andujar, he lost his command allowing a single to Luke Voit and walking Gleyber Torres on four pitches. Manager Rick Renteria lifted Shields for Jace Fry to face Greg Bird. The first baseman gave a 0-1 fastball a ride to deep right field, but Avisail Garcia caught the ball on the warning track ending the threat.
Fry would throw a much needed clean seventh inning. After his 1.1 innings, it was Juan Minaya's turn to face Giancarlo Stanton leading off the eight. After sneaking a couple of fastballs by Stanton for two strikes, the slugger did not miss the third with a rocket up the middle for a single. Next was Hicks, and the count was full, and Minaya again tried to sneak a fastball by the hitter. Hicks also didn't miss crushing it into the right-field bleachers tying the game, 4-4.
Renteria replaced Minaya with Dylan Covey, who was able to get out of the eighth inning only allowing a single to Torres. In the ninth, Covey struck out Austin Romine to start things off and was set up to face Ronald Torreyes. Yankees skipper Aaron Boone went to the bench calling for Walker to pinch hit. Sure enough, on the very first pitch of the at-bat, Walker hits a no-doubter solo shot to end the game.
Game Notes
- Both Yolmer Sanchez and Nicky Delmonico collected multi-hit games going 2-for-5.
- Shields final line was 5.2 IP 4 H 2 ER 4 BB 3 K. With a season ERA 4.54, it's unclear if this will be the last start for Shields in a White Sox uniform with the wavier deadline quickly approaching.
- White Sox have to win 30 straight games to finish the season with a winning record.
Record: 52-80 | Box Score
