The White Sox (71-51) entered the day with a magic number of just 31 games and were looking for a sweep of the Oakland Athletics (69-53) in the matinee game. They got off to a quick start with an Eloy Jimenez RBI-double, but the Sox were unable to capitalize on some early control issues from A’s starter Cole Irvin, leaving the bases loaded in the first inning and only scoring one run. The A’s were able to use the long ball on multiple occasions today, slugging three of them. After the White Sox regained the lead on an Andrew Vaughn home run in the fifth inning, Matt Chapman tied it up an inning later, and Matt Olson hit the big shot in the seventh inning with a two-run shot off of Michael Kopech.
Things got interesting in the bottom of the ninth when a routine game-ending fly ball resulted in a collision in center field, allowing the White Sox to cut the deficit to 5-4, and bring up Jimenez, but he flew out to end it and the A’s escaped with the victory.
W: Yusmeiro Petit (9-1) | L: Michael Kopech (3-2) | S: Lou Trivino (20)
Savant Leaders
Notable Performances
Dylan Cease: 6 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 12 Swinging Strikes
Cease battled his command a bit in the mid-innings, but some early sharpness allowed him to complete a quality start for the South Siders. Cease’s ERA continues to hover around 4.00 in a season of continual growth for the 25-year-old.
Andrew Vaughn: 1-2, 1 HR, 2 RBI, BB
The young slugger continues to make a late push towards American League Rookie of the Year, and if he keeps it up, may have a case. Down 2-1 in the fifth inning, Vaughn smoked a shot into the left-field stands, putting the White Sox back on top 3-2. Over his last 30 games, he’s batting .289 with 5 home runs and 16 runs batted in.
Eloy Jimenez: 1-3, RBI, R, BB
Eloy got the Sox off and running the first when he ripped an RBI-double scoring Luis Robert. In the fifth inning, rather than giving Jimenez anything good to look at, they pitched around him, which allowed Vaughn to come up and take the lead on the home run. On top of that, he continues to show some major improvement in left field and is looking far more comfortable out there.
Yoan Moncada: 2-4
Baby steps, am I right? Moncada did strike out with the bases loaded in the first inning but rebounded with a couple of solid base hits after. He’s starting to get on base a little bit more over the last few games, so hopefully, the big hits and power will start to come soon enough. The White Sox are going to need his bat come October, so he does have time to figure it out. Hopefully, these latest signs are showing that we are near the end of this slump.
Next Game
Two big series down and two more coming. The White Sox have managed to go 4-3 on this homestand against two solid opponents in the Yankees and Athletics but now will turn their attention to the American League leader in wins: the Tampa Bay Rays.
Game one of this three-game set starts tomorrow night. The game is set to kick off at 6:10 PM CT on NBC Sports Chicago. Lucas Giolito and Michael Wacha are slated to take the mound.
