The White Sox bats pulled together 16 runs in the previous games, but were slowed by a Marlins staff that put eight scoreless innings on Chicago.
Aptly named Janson Junk brought everything but, ironically, his curve. The inability to place it led to the heart of the White Sox order finding a way to drive in two runs against him early. Munetaka Murakami drove in the first run of the game with some small-ball, bringing catcher Edgar Quero home. Quero’s season has featured plenty of sacrifice plays, but he finally reached on his first hit of the season.
Andrew Benintendi followed the South Side Samurai with a single of his own, driving home another run that led to a 2-0 lead. This cushion held for little time until the Marlins speared Fedde the second time through their bruising lineup.
Contributing to the game’s momentum shift, Janson Junk made a notable play, reminiscent of a hockey check. Certainly a highlight for those anticipating the Blackhawks game.
The fighting fish battled back against a cruising Erick Fedde, who seemed like his 2024 self until defensive misplays got the South Siders into danger. With two runners on, Miami piled on four runs on three straight hits after wayward throws couldn’t catch any of the three runners at home.
To see plays go wrong like that certainly feels like growing pains for a young White Sox team. After the team churned like clockwork yesterday, it was a step back.
“I think overall its been okay. You know there’s been some isolated plays here that we gotta clean up and we understand that,” White Sox manager Will Venable said post-game.
The team is five games into an 162 game season, which certainly doesn’t bode well for those looking for results now. Expectations aren’t high, but there are certainly signs of life as the White Sox have gotten ahead in more than half of their games.
However, the Sox kept an unfortunate streak going tonight: after the lead was lost, it never came close to returning for Chicago. Most of that was due to a phenomenal 4.2 scoreless innings from the Miami bullpen. A combination of Anthony Bender, Andrew Nardi, Calvin Faucher, and former Ray, Pete Fairbanks, left the White Sox without a single hit after the third. Whether the bats’ silence was entirely caused by the Marlins’ pitching staff, or how deflating the Sox’s fourth-inning errors were, unfortunately, cannot be known.
The Sox bullpen didn’t fare well in comparison. Runs piled on due to continuous issues and a general lack of awareness in the field. Rule 5 Pick Jedixon Paez had phenomenal control, but wherever he threw it, the Marlins found it. The former Red Sox Single-A pitcher went a full inning with three earned runs. Bryan Hudson also gave up two runs, one earned, prior to Paez’s difficulties in the eighth.
It was not a great showing, as the White Sox fell to Miami in what could be considered a blowout. However, the series is not lost for the South Side, as they will battle the fighting fish once more tomorrow at 12:10 CDT. They face Sandy Alcantara in the rubber match, while 2025 All-Star Shane Smith looks to recover from a bad opening day showing. After that, they will head home to Rate Field for their home opener, a three-game set versus the defending AL Champs Blue Jays.
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Featured Image: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
