Nobody would blame the Chicago White Sox if they went through the motions in Game 2 of a doubleheader after clinching the division. Many of the regulars sat out getting ready for tonight's celebration. This contest did feature the return of Andrew Vaughn coming off the Injured List and Michael Kopech starting. At least there was some intrigue.
Kopech was electric for two innings which could be used as a demo reel for his case in being part of the White Sox starting rotation in 2022. Maybe even a primer of what could come this postseason in tight situations. In 27 pitches, Kopech struck out four in two clean innings. Honestly, Cleveland didn't stand much of a chance against the fireballer. Kopech was that good.
Vaughn once again played out of position, this time at third base. Maybe at this stage, Vaughn is truly positionless as long as Jose Abreu is still around for the foreseeable future. He was no Yoan Moncada handling the hot corner, but Vaughn didn't embarrass himself either.
The rookie was able to engage in a battle against Cleveland reliever Bryan Shaw with the bases loaded. Demonstrating a veteran presence much like how Yasmani Grandal has looked at the plate, Vaughn could lay off pitches out of the strike zone until the count was full. Then it was swing mode, but Vaughn annoyed Shaw by fighting off his best sliders. Even a 2-for-54 spell driving in runners with two outs didn't matter in this plate appearance. When Shaw tried to beat Vaughn inside the plate, the White Sox rookie emerged victoriously.
A two-run single to left field put the White Sox ahead, 2-1. Perhaps the inning should have continued if Brian Goodwin wasn't caught in a rundown. His TOOTBLAN ended the threat of more runs that inning from the White Sox.
In the seventh inning, Cleveland called for their dynamic Closer Emmanuel Clase. Again, no one would blame the White Sox hitters if each swung wildly three times to end the game and go party. Instead, they continued to fight. Gavin Sheets, Billy Hamilton, and Zack Collins all singled to load the bases with no outs. Cesar Hernandez got sawed off on an infield grounder that Cleveland's first baseman Yu Chang didn't field cleanly. Sheets scored, and the White Sox tied the game. Clase got Adam Engel to strike out, Leury Garcia grounded into a fielder's choice at home plate, and Grandal hacking at every pitch to pop out over the infield.
Cleveland ended the game thanks to Oscar Mercado's two-run homer off Jose Ruiz. A loss is a loss, but the effort was still there from the backups to not give up so easily. That's admirable and deserving of a postgame beer shower to celebrate a division title.
Game Notes:
- Adam Engel, Leury Garcia, and Yasmani Grandal had multi-hit games.
- Only Cesar Hernandez and Brian Goodwin didn’t record a hit.
Record: 86-67 | Box Score
