Back in 2011, I attended a White Sox-Yankees game that was rather muggy-- to the point of oppressive-- as summer games in Chicago can be at times. In the mid-innings a front rolled through, and the collective sigh of relief that came from the stadium was audible; an exhaled "ahhhhh" that reverberated for a moment.
It was a refreshing relief from the humidity that had plagued the city for the past several days. That "ahhhhh" fits tonight's game well, as the White Sox gave fans their own breath of fresh, cool air in a surprising 9-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
On the mound for the Rays was rookie Brendan McKay, drafted fourth overall in 2017 out of Louisville. McKay had pitched well in the first three games of his career, a 1.69 ERA with 13 strikeouts to just 1 walk. Leury Garcia got things off on the right foot though, striking a double to right on the second pitch of the game. After a Moncada flyout, Abreu scalded a ball off Mike Brosseau's glove at second (ruled an E4) to bring in the first run of the game.
While the offense wouldn't get anything further in the first, they were able to add on in the second. Jon Jay singled to right with one out (and has now reached base safely in 17 of 18 games with the Sox), and after a Yolmer popup to center, Engel legged out an infield single to center. That set the tone for Leury Garcia's second double of the game, an improbable popup to short right that dropped between three fielders, scoring two and giving the Sox two more. Moncada dropped his own BABIP-fueled ball into right for his own double, and the Sox led 4-1.
In the fourth, Yolmer Sanchez led off with a dinger to right to make it 5-2, his second of the season. After Adam Engel struck out, Leury Garcia doubled again, his third of the game, making him the first Sox player with 3 two-baggers in a game since Adam Eaton accomplished the feat in 2014. Moncada followed up with a single to left, and the Sox led 6-2, knocking McKay out of the game at 76 pitches.
Let's backtrack a bit, though, and see how the Rays got their two runs of the game. Lopez was on the mound for the Sox tonight, and hoping to build off his positive start against Oakland. Austin Meadows led off for the Rays this evening, and continued his hot hitting against the Sox, smoking a triple on the second pitch of the game that Engel couldn't get to in time (on the season against Sox pitching to that point, 8-11, 1 double, 1 triple, 2 HRs). After a Pham strikeout on a 97 MPH heater, Ji-Man Choi singled to tie the game.
Then, with the Sox up 4-1 in the second with two out, Rays shortstop Joey Wendle had his own BABIP-fueled popup to left for a double. Mike Brosseau came through with another double to left (of the regular variety), and it was 4-2 in favor of the White Sox.
Thankfully (and happily), that would be all Lopez would allow. In sum, Lopez went 7 innings, striking out 8 (at one point his fastball hit 99 MPH), while walking just 2 and giving up 6 hits. A positive outing to build upon his start in Oakland.
As for the other three runs the Sox scored, extra base hits helped tack runs on:
- Top 5: Yolmer doubles to left; Engel triples(!) to drive him in (7-2), then scores on a wild pitch to make it 8-2.
- Top 9: With Castillo on second, Yolmer doubles over Pham's head in left to bring the tally to 9-2.
Game Notes
- Jace Fry and Jose Ruiz pitched the eighth and ninth, allowing no hits, though Fry did have a couple of walks to make things interesting in the eighth.
- As a team the Sox had 10 extra base hits entering this game post-All-Star break. Tonight, they logged 9, which is also the most on the season.
- This is the most doubles the Sox have hit in a game (7) since the 2015 season, when they also hit 7 against the Red Sox.
- Kiermaier had a nice play on a deep flyout to center off the bat of Rondon in the 9th.
Record: 43-51 | Box Score |Highlights
