The score margin from this game actually felt much larger than the result, as the White Sox were down early and weren't able to claw back into it in the later innings.
Here's your rundown of the game, by way of the tried-and-true "Followed the game from work bullet point recap". If I missed anything, please feel free to add on in the comments:
*Carlos Rodon started for the White Sox, and had struggles with his fastball command out of the gate. The first inning saw a total of 39 pitches, three walks in the inning, and a 3-0 Tampa Bay lead. Engel made a nice running catch in center to save additional runs, so it could have been worse.
*Avi Garcia exacted some measure of revenge in the second, singling home a run to give the Rays a 4-0 lead.
*Rodon was able to make it through 4.2 IP despite the high pitch count (65 pitches through 2): he exited with 111 pitches, 9 Ks, 5 BBs. 20 swinging strikes overall, with 16 of those coming off 54 sliders thrown.
*Blake Snell, unsurprisingly, continued his dominance over the Sox and had a very strong start for the Rays. Last year’s AL Cy Young looked in form, striking out 5 of the first 6 Sox batters. He finished with 11 total strikeouts, no walks over 6 IP.
*Jose Rondon got the White Sox on the board with a solo home run to left off Snell, and was 2-2 against him (infield single, as well).
*The Sox had their best scoring opportunity against Snell in the 6th. Leury Garcia doubled down the line in left, and Tim Anderson hit an infield single to put runners at first and third, nobody out, down 4-1. Snell dug deep, though, and struck out three straight to end the threat.
*Fulmer looked pretty good through 2.1 innings in relief, then had problems in the 8th, giving up back-to-back singles to start the 8th, walked Daniel Robertson to load the bases, then walked Austin Meadows to force in an run. Total line: 3 IP, 3 H, 3 K, 2 BB, ER. He was optioned to Charlotte after the game, presumably to make room for Ervin Santana.
Bullet Points
- Leury Garcia had another nice day, 3-4 with a double out of the leadoff spot.
- Eloy Jimenez went 2-4 with 2 Ks.
- Nate Jones looked better, 1.1 IP, 2 Ks, 1 BB.
- Each team struck out 14 times.
- Avisail Garcia returned to Chicago, going 2-5 with 1 RBI, 3 Ks.
Record: 3-6 | Box Score | Highlights
