Through six innings, this game had the makings of a low-scoring affair featuring strong pitching from both starters. Eduardo Rodriguez, Red Sox starter, pitched 5 2/3 innings, striking out 12 (!) and giving up just one run, while Carlos Rodon had thus far given up two runs -- solo shots to Eduardo Nunez and Jackie Bradley, Jr.-- but otherwise kept Boston in check.
Unfortunately, the 7th inning was a different story for Carlos, and so the score ballooned from "pitcher's duel" to "we'll-need-a-few-extra-runs-to-win-this" territory.
Alas, those "few extra runs" never came to pass.
That damage in the 7th: leading off the 7th for the Red Sox was Christian Vazquez, who walked. After a Jackie Bradley Jr. flyout, Mookie Betts doubled to left center to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with just one out. Here, unfortunately, is where the glue came undone: Andrew Benintendi was up next, and Rodon got him to tap a ball back to the mound; Rodon tossed the ball way over Matt Davidson's glove at first allowing Vazquez to score. 3-1 Red Sox.
Up next was Steve Pearce, who singled to left field to make it 4-1. At this point, Rodon's night was done, and Ryan Burr was on in replacement. J.D. Martinez greeted Burr with another single, this time up the middle, and it was 5-1 Red Sox. Burr did get a double play off the bat of Xander Bogaerts to end the inning, but would give up a dinger in the 8th to Ian Kinsler to make it 6-1 Red Sox.
The lone run for the White Sox came in the sixth. Yolmer Sanchez reached first with nobody covering a ground out up the middle. Adam Engel then reached on a Fielder's Choice, and, after a strikeout by Tim Anderson, Nicky Delmonico drove in the only Sox run with a double.
Bullet Points
*White Sox batters struck out 18 times this game, to just one walk.
*Rodriguez struck out 12, including 5 looking.
*Tonight's loss marks 6 consecutive losing seasons.
Record: 54-82|Box Score
