2 weeks Ago By Besnik Zekiri, On Tap Sports Net
Same Ending, Slightly Different Script Surprise, surprise — the Chicago White Sox couldn’t get the job done late in S aturday afternoon’s game against the Boston Red Sox. Despite a better effort, the result was all too familiar. The South Siders dropped their sixth straight game, falling 4–3 in 10 innings at Fenway Park.
To be fair, the bar for “better effort” is basically lying on the floor at this point, especially after being outscored 34–6 over their last four games. Still, it was a step up — a wobbly one, but a step nonetheless. Smith Starts Strong, Devers Delivers Blow Starter Shane Smith had a shorter outing than in his first three starts , but the outcome felt awfully similar.
Smith, who has struggled as do most pitchers, when facing lineups for the third time through , met that familiar wall a bit earlier this time — in the fifth inning. Boston slugger Rafael Devers crushed a three-run homer over the Green Monster to give the Red Sox a 3–0 lead. Smith ended his day with 14 outs recorded, walking one, striking out three, and — in a less-than-ideal stat line — hitting three batters.
Bullpen Redemption Tour (Sort Of) The South Siders bullpen, battered and bruised over the past week, delivered the bounce-back performance it desperately needed. After surrendering 20 earned runs in their previous 16 innings entering Saturday, the unit finally steadied the ship. Jared Shuster, Cam Booser, Stephen Wilson, Jordan Leasure, and Mike Vasil combined for 5 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, keeping the game within reach.
Not quite done in Boston. #WhiteSox pic.twitter.
com/iAuX0yhqhn Clawing Back The Sox had early chances to chip away but failed to come through in the clutch, going hitless with two outs and a runner on second in the second, third, and fifth innings. Garrett Crochet did not flirt with a no-hitter in his rematch with Smith, settling instead for your run-of-the-mill dominant outing. He allowed six hits and two walks over six innings while fanning seven.
Another ho-hum day at the office. In the seventh, Joshua Palacios walked and reached third on a throwing error by shortstop Trevor Story. Chase Meidroth plated him with an RBI single — one of three hits for the rookie on the afternoon.
Chase Meidroth got the party started in the 7th...
First RBI in the bigs pic.twitter.com/6DNEyF3vtG Next up was Luis Robert Jr.
, who launched a towering two-run homer over the Green Monster to tie the game at 3–3. That one ain't comin' back..
. Luis Robert Jr. makes this a new ballgame in Boston! pic.
twitter.com/k4i0W2ySIh Late Inning Hopes..
. Crushed Again The Sox had a golden opportunity in the ninth. Rookie catcher Edgar Quero led off with a double, but Palacios popped out on a bunt attempt, Brooks Baldwin struck out, and Meidroth flied out to center to end the threat.
Opportunity met reality, and reality stayed undefeated. After Vasil struck out Story to open the 10th, the White Sox opted to intentionally walk Wilyer Abreu with the ghost runner, Alex Bregman, on second. A walk to Kristian Campbell loaded the bases, and Tristan Casas ended things with a walk-off single off the Green Monster.
News and Notes The White Sox placed left-hander Martín Pérez on the injured list and recalled Jared Shuster. More will be known after Pérez undergoes an MRI. Per 670 The Score’s Bruce Levine, Chicago intends to stretch out Mike Clevinger and use him as a starter.
After being DFA,White Sox will have Mike Clevinger go to Triple A and stretch out as a starter again. Reliever Gus Varland (forearm strain) is targeting a return in June or July. Lefty Fraser Ellard (hamstring strain) threw off a mound today to injured battery mate Korey Lee (ankle).
Infielder Josh Rojas , yet to make his White Sox debut due to a hairline toe fracture, is nearing a rehab assignment. In other injury news, Fraser Ellard threw off the mound to Korey Lee today back in Chicago. As for Josh Rojas, Venable: "He feels good, but not quite there yet to start a rehab assignment.
" The White Sox are now 3-for-35 with runners in scoring position over their last four games. You read that right. What’s On Tap Next? The White Sox will attempt to salvage a little dignity — and maybe a game — in Sunday’s series finale at Fenway Park.
Losers of six straight, they’ll hand the ball to Sean Burke gets the start for Chicago, and - believe it or not -he's actually been better than Boston's Tanner Houck . So yes, there's glimmer of hope. A spark.
Something. First pitch is set for 12:35 p.m.
CT and will air on CHSN. This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission..
