Breaking it up into two parts, much like the game itself...
After the suspension:
Yolmer Sánchez was the reason the game was suspended instead of postponed, and he was the reason why it didn't go any further this evening. With the bases loaded and one out, Sánchez spanked a single through the drawn-in infield to bring a twice-delayed game to a merciful end.
The Sox started the threat because Jake Diekman botched a LOOGY matchup by plunking Yonder Alonso. Tim Anderson pinch-ran for Alonso and moved to third on McCann's double. Kevin McCarthy then walked Charlie Tilson intentionally, but couldn't get the double-play ball.
Alex Colomé earned the win with a scoreless ninth. Aaron Bummer and Evan Marshall set it up by covering three innings between them, with Bummer taking the sixth and seventh by himself.
Before the suspension:
Iván Nova and Homer Bailey might not have been your two choices for a pitchers' duel, but there you have it. Nova appeared to resemble his pre-Sox self for a second consecutive start by keeping just about everything on the ground. The Royals found enough holes for six hits over five innings, including a double that came around to score in the fourth inning, but Nova put a dent in that 16.00 ERA.
The Sox couldn't muster much against Bailey, totaling just one hit over the first four inning. Worse yet, it was a single by James McCann, who made the ill-advised decision to try stretching a single into a double when the carom of the sidewall bounced right to Whit Merrifield.
They finally had success as rain came down in the fourth. McCann singled to start the inning, and Jose Rondón did the same two batters later. With Sánchez at the plate, the downpour became too thick to ignore, and the umpires finally halted play.
They resumed play two 58 minutes, and with Sánchez facing lefty reliever Brian Flynn. Turning him around backfired, because Sánchez poked a single through the right side to tie the game at 1.
That was crucial, because the game was suspended again even before the next at-bat could be completed. It didn't help that Rondón was cut down at second by Merrifield, who threw behind the runner at second when he realized he had no shot at home. Rick Renteria challenged the play and lost.
Bullet points:
*McCann cost the Sox an out on the basepaths, but he also created one by picking off Ryan O'Hearn at second base after a missed bunt.
*Sánchez, who was on second when the game was suspended, completed his circuit by making mud angels at third, then dousing himself with Gatorade in the dugout.
*That said, Sánchez didn't seem to be all that amused about the conditions after the fact:
Record: 24-29 | Box score | Highlights
