Dylan Cease didn’t have his best stuff but that was no problem for the White Sox. The offense looked much different from Monday’s opener and games prior, plating seven runs on 13 hits.
After scoring two runs in the first, the White Sox lost Tim Anderson in the third inning when home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn tossed him from the game. The incident came after Anderson was denied time during his at-bat and ultimately struck out while not even in the box. The shortstop was clearly frustrated and yelling at Giants pitcher Logan Webb from the dugout when he was ejected.
Luckily, the bats were fine without Anderson as Hanser Alberto, Luis Robert Jr., Yoan Moncada, and Gavin Sheets all manufactured runs to push the lead to 7-1 by the end of the seventh inning. Sheets led the offense with three driven-in over two hits. Second baseman Elvis Andrus also recorded his 2,000th career hit with a single in the fifth.
On the mound, Cease battled through an illness and struggled with his command. His five walks allowed were his most in a game since a career-high seven given up against the Rays last June. That being said, none of those surrendered today came around to score and the righty held the Giants to just one run over five innings. Pedro Grifol’s crafty bullpen management also resulted in Reynaldo Lopez escaping a bases-loaded jam and the team saving some of their best arms heading into the series finale.
Wednesday’s win makes the White Sox 6-1 in their last seven games against San Francisco and 12-3 in their last 15 since 2008. The victory also puts the club back at .500 with a record of 3-3.
W: Dylan Cease (1-0, 1.59 ERA)| L: Logan Webb (0-2, 6.55 ERA)
StatCast Breakdown
Box Score
Offensive Recap:
Pitching Recap:
White Sox Scoring Recap:
- Bottom 1st: Andrew Vaughn doubles (4) on a line drive to right fielder Michael Conforto. Luis Robert Jr. scores. Andrew Benintendi to 3rd. CWS 1, SF 0
- Bottom 1st: Gavin Sheets singles on a line drive to center fielder Mike Yastrzemski. Andrew Benintendi scores. Andrew Vaughn out at home on the throw, center fielder Mike Yastrzemski to catcher Roberto Perez. CWS 2, SF 0
- Bottom 5th: Gavin Sheets singles on a line drive to center fielder Mike Yastrzemski. Andrew Benintendi scores. Andrew Vaughn out at home on the throw, center fielder Mike Yastrzemski to catcher Roberto Perez. CWS 3, SF 1
- Bottom 5th: Luis Robert Jr. doubles (2) on a line drive to right fielder Michael Conforto. Elvis Andrus scores. Hanser Alberto to 3rd. CWS 4, SF 1
- Bottom 7th: Yoan Moncada singles on a ground ball to right fielder Michael Conforto. Hanser Alberto scores. Luis Robert Jr. to 3rd. Andrew Benintendi to 2nd. CWS 5, SF 1
- Bottom 7th: Gavin Sheets singles on a ground ball to right fielder Michael Conforto. Luis Robert Jr. scores. Andrew Benintendi scores. Yoan Moncada to 3rd. CWS 7, SF 1
Notable Performances
Dylan Cease: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 8 K, 1 HR
Cease wasn’t his usual self and later explained postgame that he was feeling under the weather. Even so, the team’s ace managed to strike out eight while maneuvering around trouble to limit San Francisco to just one run.
Gavin Sheets (DH): 2-for-4, 3 RBI
Sheets, who will be serving as one of the team’s designated hitters during Eloy Jimenez’s absence, plated three runs on a pair of hits in this contest.
Luis Robert Jr.: 3-for-4, 2B (2), 1 RBI, 2 runs scored
Robert Jr.’s bat is starting to pick up a bit after a slow start in Houston. The centerfielder gave the White Sox their fourth run with a double in the fifth.
Other Game Highlights:
Next Game
The White Sox and Giants will face off for one more on Thursday afternoon. San Francisco’s Alex Wood is set to go up against veteran righty Lance Lynn in the rubber match.
First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. CT.
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