Chris Getz took a flyer on Erick Fedde this offseason, and it appears to be paying off. The 31-year-old registered seven shutout innings Thursday night, allowing zero walks and just six hits. Tommy Pham, Eloy Jimenez, and Bryan Ramos each recorded two-hit games in support as Chicago’s three runs proved enough.
The South Siders jumped out to a first inning lead on an Andrew Vaughn double, scoring Pham. One frame later, a Ramos double, Paul DeJong single, and Pham single brought home two more runs. Unsurprisingly, the Sox offense grew stagnant, but the early fireworks got the job done.
That was largely due to the heroic efforts of Jordan Leasure, who inherited the bases loaded from Fedde in the seventh. Unfazed, the rookie struck out two Guardians and got the third to ground out to neutralize the threat. The lead then shrunk when John Brebbia yielded back-to-back jacks to Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor in the eighth, before Michael Kopech entered and secured the final four outs.
W: Erick Fedde (3-0, 4.15 ERA) | L: Ben Lively (1-2, 2.63 ERA) | S: Michael Kopech (4)
Statcast Breakdown
Box Score
Offensive Recap
Pitching Recap
Notable Performances
Erick Fedde: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Thursday was Fedde’s fourth start in his last five going six-plus innings and surrendering two or fewer runs. It could have been a far more mediocre stat line save for Leasure’s rescue, but Fedde did his job regardless. The former top prospect now sports an ERA of 3.00 on the campaign.
Tommy Pham: 2-4, 2B, R, RBI
Early-season acquisition Pham just keeps making an impact. Scoring one run and plating another, the veteran outfielder is increasingly looking like a solid trade piece for Chris Getz to deal in a couple of months.
Bryan Ramos: 2-4, 2B, R
With a double and single on the night, Ramos improved his OPS to .900. Just 22 years old, Sox fans hope that the organization’s fourth-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline can continue to ball out in the majors.
Michael Kopech and Jordan Leasure: 2.1 IP, H, 0 R, 3 K
Chicago’s pair of flame-throwing pen options teamed up to bring home a win that Brebbia had jeopardized. Kopech allowed two warning track fly balls, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, right? Bottom line: seven outs and a Sox win.
Next Matchup
Chicago will square off vs. Cleveland once more tomorrow at 6:40 pm. Guaranteed Rate Field will see Carlos Carrasco and Garrett Crochet do battle as the Sox look to go up two games in the four-game set.
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Featured Image: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
