Every game has certainly become a must-win game for the White Sox recently, but none are bigger than their head-to-head games with Cleveland. Today, the White Sox won their first of many must-win games down the stretch.
Gavin Sheets started out the fun with a two-run homer in the top of the second. Then, Andrew Vaughn decided to hop in with a solo shot of his own in the next at-bat. The home runs piled on after that. Yoan Moncada, Yasmani Grandal, and Elvis Andrus all hit solo shots to expand the lead to 6-1. In the fifth inning, Jose Abreu singled to drive in Moncada after he hit a double. By the end of the day, the White Sox had hit 25% of the total number of home runs in one game (five) that they did in the entire month of June (20).
Lance Lynn pitched a solid game today going six and a third giving up two runs on six hits as well as only one walk and six strikeouts. Lance departed after a double from Myles Straw in the seventh, giving the team the necessary length they needed to help out the bullpen. Aaron Bummer came in to finish off the inning, but unfortunately, he gave up an infield hit to Amed Rosario which allowed Straw to score. Reynaldo Lopez came in the next inning and Kendall Gravemen closed the door for the South Siders in the 9th.
With the win, the White Sox improved to three games back of the Guardians with three games left to play against the club. The two will meet once again next week for the season-deciding series in Chicago.
W: Lance Lynn (7-5) | L: Hunter Gaddis (0-2)
StatCast Breakdown:
Box Score
Offensive Recap:
Pitching Recap:
White Sox Scoring Recap:
Top 2nd: Gavin Sheets homers (13) to right field. Eloy Jimenez scores. 2-0 White Sox
Top 2nd: Andrew Vaughn homers (16) to left. 3-0 White Sox
Top 3rd: Yoan Moncada homers (10) to center. 4-1 White Sox
Top 4th: Yasmani Grandal homers (5) to right center. 5-1 White Sox
Top 5th: Elvis Andrus homers (14) to center. 6-1 White Sox
Top 5th: Jose Abreu singled to center, Yoan Moncada scores. 7-1 White Sox
Top 9th: Jose Abreu singles, Josh Harrison scores. 8-2 White Sox
Notable Performances:
Yoan Moncada: 4-for-5, 2B, HR, 1 RBI, 2 R
Yoan Moncada had a phenomenal game and was a triple shy of the cycle. It’s nice to see his bat come alive after a very rocky season at the plate and hopefully, he continues this into the weekend series in Detroit.
Yasmani Grandal: 2-for-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB
Yasmani Grandal did his best Yoan Moncada impression with a very solid day at the plate and had a beautiful bat drop on his home run.
Jose Abreu: 3-for-5, 2 RBI
Jose Abreu did what he has been doing all of his career: drive in runs. He drove in two runs on two separate singles hit today.
Lance Lynn: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Lance was Lance as usual dominating with six strikeouts and only one walk. He also showed us his wonderful dialogue, per usual.
Here are the rest of the home runs:
Next Matchup
After today’s makeup game, the White Sox will head to Detroit for three games they absolutely have to have. Lucas Giolito will head to the mound in game one against Matt Manning.
The game will begin at 6:10 PM CT over on NBC Sports Chicago.
Follow us @SoxOn35th for more updates throughout the season!
Featured Image: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports