The Chicago White Sox were back on Sunday night baseball for the first time in seven years. Never mind they were only on because their northside counterparts, the Chicago Cubs, had to cancel their series due to a COVID outbreak. Regardless, the White Sox were on the national stage, and they got a dream matchup. The White Sox ace, Lucas Giolito, against the best pitcher in the league, Shane Bieber. As Giolito stepped on the mound, it was apparent that he ready for the prime time matchup.
Giolito was not perfect (7IP 4H 2ER 5BB 9K 102PC), but he battled and nearly matched Bieber in every stat. Bieber (6IP 4H 3ER 2BB 8K 101PC) was outstanding as usual, but the White Sox were able to score the most runs against him this season. When Bieber left the game in the 7th inning, he was in line to get his first loss of the season. Sadly, the Sox bullpen could not hold the lead. The White Sox fell to the Indians 5-4 in the 10th inning.
The offense did not have high numbers but was able to scrape and claw against a pitcher that nobody has been able to touch. They scored three runs against Bieber. The White Sox catching duo looked great this season. James McCann (3-4 1R 2RBI 1HR) has been rolling to start this season; Bieber could not stop his hot bat. McCann is hitting .360 to start this year. So far, the White Sox have kept McCann in a limited role, but after this start paired with the great season he had last year, the White Sox need to play both catchers more often. McCann can also serve as a nice trade chip if teams start calling looking for a catcher. A position that is pretty weak around the league right now.
Yasmani Grandal (1-4 1RBI) got the big hit that helped the White Sox take the lead 3-2 in the bottom of the 6th. Grandal’s production has been heating up over the last week after a slow start. Grandal has not only increased his batting average but also provided the White Sox with some versatility. When he is not catching, he can also play 1B to give Jose Abreu a night off of fielding or come in as a DH.
Evan Marshall came into the 8th inning after the seven superb innings spun by Giolito. The White Sox pen just needed to get through the last two innings. Marshall struck out the first two batters, walked Carlos Santana, and then gave up a game-tying double to Franmil Reyes. This inning was the first time Marshall has given up any runs in any game this season. Alex Colome pitched a clean 9th inning with no walks, no hits. Unfortunately, the White Sox were unable to score in the bottom of the 9th. So, the White Sox headed into extra-innings for the first time this season.
Going into the 10th inning, Matt Vasgersian gave Jimmy Cordero the kiss of death. Vasgersian mindlessly brought up Cordero’s innate ability to leave base runners stranded as Cordero took the mound; Cordero subsequently gave up two runs in the top 10th. According to this year’s extra-innings rule, Nomar Mazara started on 2nd base to start the inning. I am not a fan of having any runner just on base who did not earn it. Mazara was able to score one run, but then a rain delay killed the momentum. The White Sox had two quick outs stranding two runners to end the game.
This loss puts the White Sox at 8-8. Not great, but after the Twins got swept by Kansas City, everyone in the division is within 2.5 games. The White Sox start a series in Detroit with Dallas Kuechel taking the mound against Michael Fulmer. This should be a get right series for the offense, and hopefully, the whole team. The White Sox cannot take the Tigers for granted. The Tigers just swept the Pittsburgh Pirates and now sit at 8-5. The White Sox need to win at least two games of this series to jumpstart the White Sox in the motor city.