The day started off in White Sox fans’ eyes as a win before a pitch was even thrown. With Dallas Keuchel being DFA’d earlier in the day, now was the time for the Sox to show they meant business going forward. Then the game started with the cross town rival Cubs.
The game didn’t get off to a great start for Sox starter Johnny Cueto, with a leadoff hit by the Cubs Christopher Morel. After a stolen base by Morel, Patrick Wisdom hit a bloop double and the Cubs took a 1-0 lead. Frank Schwindel then had a RBI single and then a throwing error by A.J. Pollock let Schwindel go to third and the Cubs had a 2-0 lead after the 1st. The Cubs weren’t done as in the 2nd, after hits by Nico Horner and Rafael Ortega, Andrelton Simmons grounded out to Tim Anderson to score Horner for a 3-0 lead.
Cubs starter Keegan Thompson was cruising along for most of this game, starting off by only giving up 3 hits through 4 1/3. However, with 1 out in the 5th inning, Jake Burger unloaded on a Thompson curveball for his 4th homer of the year to make it a 3-1 game.
Cueto settled down and got into the 7th inning, but after loading the bases with 1 out, Patrick Wisdom grounded into a fielders choice to score Simmons from 3rd to make the score 4-1. The next batter Frank Schwindel singled to right field to push the lead to 5-1. That single closed the book on Cueto’s night: 6 2/3 IP, 9 hits, 5 ER, 3 walks, and 2 SO, pushing his ERA to 2.41. Bennett Sousa came into the game and before he could get an out, Patrick Wisdom was thrown out at home. After a steal attempt by Frank Schwindel got Yasmani Grandal to throw down to second, a heads up throw by Tim Anderson back to Grandal nailed Wisdom at home to end the Cubs threat in the 7th.
Adam Engel would make a fantastic catch to rob Willson Contreras of a home run in the top of the 9th to keep it a 5-1 score. After a leadoff walk to Yasmani Grandal, the White Sox offense would be shut down in the bottom of the 9th and go on to lose 5-1.
With the loss, the White Sox fell to 22-23 on the season and fail to pick up any ground on the Twins.
W: Keegan Thompson (5-0) | L: Johnny Cueto (0-1)
StatCast Breakdown
Box Score
Offensive Recap:
Pitching Recap:
Notable Performances
Johnny Cueto: 6.2 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Cueto started off rather rocky, but found himself cruising through the middle innings before running into trouble in the seventh. Tony La Russa questionably left Cueto in with the bases loaded and just one out, and this decision would allow two additional runs to score for the Cubs. Overall, Cueto was solid and gave exactly what most would be looking for out of a #5 starter – he was just left in a bit too long.
Jake Burger: 3-for-4, HR, RBI
Considering Burger was the only offense to speak of for the White Sox, it feels like he should be a notable performer.
Adam Engel: 2-for-3, 2B
While Engel did provide two hits in the effort, his best work took place in the ninth when he robbed Willson Contreras of a home run in right center field.
The Next Matchup
The White Sox and Cubs will finish off the Crosstown Series this season tomorrow afternoon, as Marcus Stroman and Dylan Cease will do battle. The game can be viewed on NBC Sports Chicago and begins at 1:10 PM CT.
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