The White Sox had no business winning on Tuesday night, but they did so anyway.
Entering the ninth down 1–0 with just two hits, the boys finally got something going with Munetaka Murakami drawing a leadoff walk and Miguel Vargas getting hit by a pitch, albeit a scary moment. After Derek Hill replaced Mune as a pinch-runner, he immediately helped turn things up a notch, swiping his way into scoring position as part of a one-out double steal.
Enter Chase Meidroth, who flicked an inside-out swing down the right-field line to tie the game. The expected batting average on the hit? Just .080, perhaps getting a little help from the wand of Mike Vasil.
Right after that, Andrew Benintendi smoked a ball off Josh Naylor‘s glove for an infield single, giving the team its first lead of the series.
In the bottom of the ninth, Will Venable handed the ball over to Grant Taylor, who came in firing. The right-hander flirted with triple digits as he struck out the side to emphatically slam the door shut on an improbable win.
With the victory, the White Sox improve to 25–23 and remain two games back in the AL Central. Cleveland took home their fourth straight win, so there won’t be any movement up the ranks.
Box Score
Hitting
Pitching
Scoring Summary
- Bottom 1st: Patrick Wisdom grounds into a force out, shortstop Colson Montgomery to second baseman Chase Meidroth. Julio Rodríguez scores. Randy Arozarena to 3rd. Josh Naylor out at 2nd. Patrick Wisdom to 1st. Mariners lead 1-0.
- Top 9th: Chase Meidroth singles on a ground ball to right fielder Connor Joe. Derek Hill scores. Miguel Vargas to 3rd. Chase Meidroth to 2nd. White Sox tie 1-1.
- Top 9th: Andrew Benintendi singles on a ground ball to second baseman Cole Young, deflected by first baseman Josh Naylor. Miguel Vargas scores. Chase Meidroth to 3rd. White Sox lead 2-1.
Key Performers
Anthony Kay (SP): 5.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Kay needed 35 pitches to get through the opening frame, but settled in nicely and essentially turned on cruise control from there. The lefty held the Mariners’ bats to just one first-inning hit and a run, as both he and the bullpen held the offense hitless the rest of the game.
Andrew Benintendi (DH): 1-for-4, RBI
Let’s say it again because it sounds so good: Benny delivered the game-winning hit with an infield single off the glove of Naylor. One more time? Off the glove of Naylor!
Grant Taylor (RP): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Good morning, good afternoon, and good night. Taylor absolutely blew the Mariners away in the ninth, putting an exclamation point on an emphatic win.
Next Game
The White Sox will look to capture another West Coast series in the rubber match on Wednesday afternoon. Right-hander Sean Burke (2-3, 4.10 ERA) will get the nod for the Sox and face Mariners righty Emerson Hancock (3-2, 3.02 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. CDT.
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Featured Photo: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Pathetic