The White Sox are leaving Guaranteed Rate Field tonight with a win, splitting the Monday doubleheader with Minnesota.
The White Sox were flat in game one – no if’s, and’s, or but’s. It took until the bottom of the third, or halfway through the 7-inning contest, until the Sox got a ball out of the infield when Tim Anderson hit a 2-0 homer to right. From that point on, the White Sox struggled on offense, failing to find Lance Lynn the run support he needed. Lynn would pitch seven innings but ended his day with a no-decision. The Twins would take advantage of a few costly fielding mistakes by the Sox, going up 3-1 in the tenth. The Sox plated one in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough as they fell 3-2.
Game two looked fairly similar to game one for the first couple of innings. With Reynaldo Lopez, who has struggled against Minnesota in his career, making his first start in over a year on the mound, it was hard to predict how the Sox would do. For the most part, Lopez had some command issues and had the ball hit hard, but didn’t let the game get out of hand three innings of work. Three big home runs by Abreu (17), Moncada (7), and Gavin Sheets (5) accounted for all Sox run, but none bigger than Sheets’. Sheets had a smart at-bat and took advantage of a clearly ailing Jose Berrios. He walked it off, and the Sox won 5-3.
The Sox are still 20 games over .500, as the win in game two keeps them right there at 57-37.
Game 1 – W: Tyler Duffey (2-2), | L: Garrett Crochet (2-5)
Game 2 – W: Aaron Bummer (2-4) | L: Jose Berrios (7-4)
Savant Leaders
Game 1
Game 2
Notable Performances
Tim Anderson (Game 1): 2-for-4, HR
Make it now 16 straight games with a TA knock.
Anderson’s homer, his ninth of the year, in game one gave the Sox a 1-0 lead. That 16-game hitting streak is a career-high for Anderson, but there’s more to it than that — not only is it 16 straight games with a knock, but today’s homer also extended Anderson’s run streak to 12, and home run streak to three, which are both also career highs. It’s fair to say things are going well for number seven.
Jose Abreu (Both Games): 2-for-7, HR, 2 RBI, 3 K
With his 215th home run in the second game, Jose Abreu officially moved into fourth all-time on the White Sox home run list. Next up: Harold Baines at 221.
Lance Lynn (Game 1): 7.0 IP, 5 H, R, ER, BB, 4 K
It wasn’t a typical, mow you down and make you feel weak Lance Lynn game, but it was another solid performance and quality start.
No signs of new contract nerves showed today, as Lynn allowed just a homer to Nelson Cruz which ended up being the difference. He remains 9-3 on the year.
Gavin Sheets: 1-for-3, walk-off homer, 3 RBI
It was a night to remember for Gavin Sheets.
With the news that Luis Robert is cleared to start his rehab, Eloy’s return just around the corner, and the Sox being hot in the middle of the season, some decisions are going to have to be made by Tony La Russa and co. Tonight, Gavin Sheets made a case for wanting to stay. Will a walk-off homer against a bottom of the division opponent be enough of a resume to stay? Probably not. Sheets is batting .245 with, now, five homers and 14 driven in, over 49 at-bats. That’s petty solid. What tonight did, was show that Sheets can be patient. He stalked Berrios during the previous at-bat’s and knew he saw a mistake. No matter what Gavin Sheets’ fate may be, he’ll always remember tonight.
Moment of the Game
Easily the moment of both games, Gavin Sheets’ walk off takes the cake.
Next Game
The White Sox are back at it tomorrow night for game number three with the Twins. Bailey Ober (1-1, 5.45 ERA) will take on Dallas Keuchel (7-3, 4.25 ERA) in the 7:10 PM CT matchup.
Coverage can be found on NBC Sports Chicago and ESPN 1000.
