Over their three-game winning streak, the White Sox provided a glimpse of a future in which they managed to avoid owning the record for the most losses in a modern MLB season, at least outright.
Tonight dragged them back to the word of probabilities.
Griffin Canning, who entered this game leading the American League in earned runs allowed, threw six scoreless innings, and three Angels relievers carried the shutout bid across the finish line.
The White Sox have been blanked in 19 games, so they're now tied for fourth with the 1972 and 1909 teams for the most shutouts in franchise history:
- 1910, 24
- 1968, 23
- 1976, 21
- 1909, 191972, 192024, 19
Nicky Lopez led off the game with a single, but Logan O'Hoppe cut him down at second on a throw from his knees, and that more or less set the tone for the rest of the game. The Sox managed just six singles and two walks, and they lost three of those baserunners early. Along with the Lopez CS, Korey Lee grounded into a double play in the fifth, and Gavin Sheets ended the game with a 4-6-3 double play in the ninth.
Davis Martin had no room for error on a night where he needed his share. The Angels made him work once the lineup flipped over, and they had particular success against his changeup. Taylor Ward picked up Gustavo Campero after a costly baserunning mistake and roped a seventh-pitch changeup through the left side to put the Angels on the board, and that marked the first of many papercuts, as the Angels scored single runs in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
Martin was only on the mound for the first three. Enyel De Los Santos allowed a solo shot in the sixth, and Jake Eder couldn't escape his first MLB inning without a run scored against him. He looked very much like himself, in that he got whiffs on three different pitches, including some big misses on his breaking ball. On the other hand, he walked a batter, hit another, and threw just 26 of 45 pitches for strikes, including a wild pitch. The inefficiency can be set aside when he doesn't have to worry about facing an entire lineup twice, so tonight provided a glimpse into his likeliest future.
Bullet points:
*Dominic Fletcher recorded an outfield assist courtesy of a heads-up play by Lopez, who cut off his throw to third, then threw to first to catch Campero, who was too aggressive in rounding the base.
*Andrew Benintendi did not record an outfield assist on his throw home after Ward's single, and Ward was allowed to mosey on into second. The extra 90 feet didn't cost the Sox.
*Andrew Vaughn avoided a hitless night thanks to a goofy side-spin one-hopper off the end of his bat, which broke Nolan Schanuel's ankles as he prepared to record a game-ending 3-unassisted.
