We’re still waiting for that next lockdown performance from a starting pitcher, but today will do.
The White Sox’ bats remained alive this evening in Pittsburgh, hammering out 14 hits and using a five-run seventh inning to put the game on ice. The club was able to score 11 runs without the benefit of a home run, led by multi-hit efforts from six hitters: Anderson, Robert Jr., Benintendi, Vaughn, Grandal, and Colas. Every starter except for Yoan Moncada had a hit in today’s effort. The White Sox also stole three bases in the effort, with Colas, Benintendi, and Anderson all adding one to their season totals. It was a night of better clutch hitting as well, with the offense going 7-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
The starting pitching struggles continued this evening, though Mike Clevinger was able to navigate his struggles better than anyone else in the rotation not named Dylan Cease. He worked into the sixth inning, though he would only strike out one hitter while giving up four runs. Joe Kelly got the biggest two outs in this game while protecting a 6-4 lead in the sixth, getting a ground out and strike out with a runner on second and just one out in the inning. From there, the offense padded the lead, and Aaron Bummer, Kendall Graveman, and Reynaldo Lopez were able to shut things down in their first action since earlier this week.
With the victory, the White Sox improve to 4-5 on the season.
W: Mike Clevinger (2-0) | L: Vince Velasquez (0-2)
StatCast Breakdown
Box Score
Offensive Recap:
Pitching Recap:
White Sox Scoring Recap:
- Top 2nd: Oscar Colas singles to left field. Andrew Vaughn scores. 1-1 Tie.
- Top 3rd: Andrew Benintendi singles to left field. Tim Anderson scores. 2-1 White Sox.
- Top 3rd: Wild pitch by Vince Velasquez. Andrew Benintendi scores. 3-1 White Sox.
- Top 3rd: Yasmani Grandal singles to center field. Andrew Vaughn, Gavin Sheets score. 5-1 White Sox.
- Top 5th: Elvis Andrus hits a sacrifice fly to right field. Andrew Vaughn scores. 6-2 White Sox.
- Top 7th: Oscar Colas singles to right field. Andrew Vaughns cores. 7-4 White Sox.
- Top 7th: Elvis Andrus singles to right field. Yasmani Grandal scores. 8-4 White Sox.
- Top 7th: Tim Anderson singles to right field. Oscar Colas scores. 9-4 White Sox.
- Top 7th: Luis Robert singles to center field. Elvis Andrus, Tim Anderson score. 11-4 White Sox.
Notable Performances
Mike Clevinger: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
It wasn’t Clevinger’s best outing by any means. However, it was the best start by a White Sox starting pitcher since Dylan Cease earlier this week, so I guess this qualifies as a “notable performance.” Clevinger struggled with command and also didn’t seem to have the best feel for his offspeed; however, he got the job done.
Andrew Vaughn: 2-for-3, 4 R, 2 RBI
Vaughn had a busy day on the basepaths, scoring four times while also driving in two of his own.
Yasmani Grandal: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, R, K
Grandal broke out of his mini-slump with two hits, including a clutch two-RBI single in the early innings of this one that gave the White Sox a big enough lead to work through a tougher outing for Clevinger.
Oscar Colas: 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, BB, K
The rookie produced throughout the evening, including a lefty-lefty RBI that helped to put the White Sox in the lead for good in this one.
Next Matchup
The Pirates and White Sox will play the rubber match of this series tomorrow afternoon at 1:10 PM CT on Easter Sunday. Michael Kopech will look to bounce back from his rough opening start, and he will go against Johan Oviedo.
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Featured Image: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
