Tim Anderson went out with a batting title, and flashed signs of better glove days ahead.
Welington Castillo lent additional credibility to my notion that he might have a better 2020 than James McCann.
A mixture of White Sox fixtures and departures combined to win the finale over Detroit. They finished the year 72-89, which at least spares them from their third consecutive 90-loss season.
Anderson went 0-for-2 at the plate, with Victor Reyes flagging down his last bid for a hit this season. That said, Rick Renteria let him leave the field to a standing ovation, partially because he finished the year hitting a league-best .335. A smaller part? Anderson stole two hits with sensational ranging plays to his left, with one in the first, and another in the fourth.
Jose Abreu didn't add to his RBI lead, but he still secured the RBI title during a painful day. Spencer Turnbull plunked him twice, but he struck back for a double in the sixth that put a decisive four-run frame in motion.
He followed Danny Mendick's first career walk with a 109-mph double to left that moved Mendick to third. Abreu departed to a standing ovation in what could theoretically be his last game with the White Sox (it probably won't be), but the Sox continued. Yoan Moncada tied the game with a groundout, and Eloy Jiménez sneaked a double inside third base to score pinch-runner Ryan Goins and put the Sox ahead. Welington Castillo put a stamp on the inning with an opposite-field blast.
Ross Detwiler made Rick Renteria's last game of the season easy by pitching into the sixth. Jimmy Cordero picked up the win by stranding a pair of inherited runners with a couple of weak groundouts, and Josh Osich, Evan Marshall, Aaron Bummer and Kelvin Herrera guided the win across the finish line. Herrera allowed the only run on the bullpen's tab with a solo shot that prevented him from lowering his ERA below 6.00 on the season.
Bullet points:
*Yoan Moncada also made a couple of outstanding plays, including a diving stab and a charging stab and throw on a chopper.
*One of Detwiler's runs was deserved (a Miguel Cabrera solo shot), but the second run scored because Daniel Palka let a two-out flare drop to the side of this sliding attempt, resulting in an RBI single.
*Palka did recover to cut down Jordy Mercer at second for the assist.
*Detwiler tried retailiating for the two Abreu HBPs, but missed hitting John Hicks.
*The White Sox went 12-14 in September, and 12-6 against the 114-loss Tigers.
Record: 72-89 | Box score | Highlights
