The Chicago White Sox were down 11-4 and somehow had a chance to take the lead in the ninth inning. Tim Anderson's flyout to center field ended a crazy game that showcased why the White Sox and New York Mets look like sellers.
It took a five-run seventh inning to turn this game on its head. Andrew Benintendi started the rally with a walk, and Anderson followed with a single to left field. After Luis Robert Jr. struck out, Mets manager Buck Showalter made a pitching change calling for Trevor Gott. That's when things went awry.
Mets third baseman Brett Baty, recently made an embarrassing defensive play, couldn't throw out Anderson at second base off Andrew Vaughn's grounder. That fielder's choice loaded the bases for Jake Burger, who unloaded on Gott's curveball with a deep drive to center field. Burger's fly hit the top of the wall, and he settled for a two-run double.
Yasmani Grandal, who started the White Sox scoring with a solo home run in the second inning, would drive in both Vaughn and Burger with a two-run single. Showalter had enough of Gott when Zach Remillard singled and called for lefty Brooks Raley. It was Oscar Colas's spot due, and the White Sox are still trying to have their young outfielder avoid facing left-handed pitching when possible. With a short bench because of Eloy Jimenez's injury, Pedro Grifol called for Carlos Perez to pinch hit.
That move worked as Raley missed multiple times with his slider in walking Perez, and once again, the bases were loaded for Seby Zavala. Thanks to #WILDPITCHOFFENSE, Grandal would score, making it an 11-9 game. Zavala struck out, but it was a ballgame again because the Mets are a mess.
Old friend, David Robertson, came in for the save attempt. He walked Grandal to start things off but was able to make quick work of Remillard and Gavin Sheets. With two outs and Zavala's spot up, Grifol again went to his bench for a pinch hitter. The only healthy bat left was Elvis Andrus. Despite falling behind early 0-2 in the count, Andrus survived long enough to draw a walk, keeping the game alive for Benintendi.
On a first-pitch curve, Benintendi singled to center field, cutting the deficit to a run and putting runners on the corners for Anderson. Benintendi did advance to second base during Anderson's at-bat, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. Robertson threw a slider in the middle of the zone, and Anderson got too underneath the pitch resulting in a game-ending flyout.
For those that like game recaps with a level of positivity to feel better as a fan, stop reading and skip to the Game Notes.
The biggest takeaway from tonight's game was how awful Lucas Giolito started. With 14 days from the trade deadline, Giolito had a chance to entice contending teams prepared to pull the trigger in adding starting pitching help. Hopefully, the contending teams take only a little stock of what happened in the first inning.
Giolito had trouble with fastball command and was sticking with sliders up in the strike zone. Neither pitch looked good, and the results demonstrated that lack of quality. Tommy Pham started the scoring with a double, and the Mets youngsters Francisco Alvarez and Baty both homered, putting up a five-spot on Giolito in the first inning. At one point, as Giolito's pitch count approached 35 pitches, Jesse Scholtens began warming up in the bullpen.
Grifol stuck with Giolito for 100 pitches, and his final line was not pretty: 3.2 IP 6 H 8 ER 5 BB 5K 3 HR Allowed.
Now everyone waits to see if Giolito makes his next probable start on Sunday against Minnesota. Contending teams may need one more good start before making their final and best offers.
Game Notes:
- Lucas Giolito’s bad start is the A plot, but Tim Anderson’s night at the plate deserves recognition. After showing some life in Atlanta this past weekend, Anderson went 3-for-5 with a HBP and an RBI Double.
- Yasmani Grandal had one of his better offensive nights of the season as he finished 2-for-3 with 3 RBI and 2 BB. Grandal now has seven home runs this season.
- Burger was 2-for-5 with 3 RBI
