Today felt like a good day to write about the Chicago White Sox. After all, a four-run ninth inning propelled them to their 31st win of the season on **checks notes** August 21! There's no good reason to talk about the Pale Hose these days; nevertheless, here I am, along with the few people who still care about this team. If you're not blogging or tweeting about them, you're here reading this. Thank you for that!
Anyways, in case you forgot, the White Sox fired Rick Hahn and Kenny Williams on this day one year ago.
Looking back on that day, the fan base's excitement on social media was palpable. Jerry Reinsdorf ousted his top decision-makers in what ended as the worst season in franchise history in over half a century. White Sox fans were elated with the news for all of nine minutes.
A Bittersweet Anniversary
Shortly after the firings, USA Today's Bob Nightengale posited that farm director Chris Getz would become the South Siders' new general manager if they chose an internal candidate. The "if" in that sentence is laughable since internal hires are the norm under Jerry Reinsdorf's reign of terror. Nightengale also indicated that Pedro Grifol, the captain of the 101-loss club, would return in 2024.
Grifol would repay the favor by steering the ship directly at the iceberg of what will likely be the worst team in modern MLB history.
Speaking of Satan, read this article from CBS Sports' Dayn Perry . It's nice to see the national media finally discussing Reindsdorf's tenure as owner of the Chicago Bulls and White Sox.
Back to the Action
During the week, the Pale Hose traveled to the Bay for a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants. Unsurprisingly, they dropped two of three, nearly avoiding a sweep with Wednesday's dramatic ninth inning. In all, the Sox went 2-4 on their six-game road trip to Houston and San Francisco, winning their first and last games of the swing.
With Wednesday's victory, the White Sox improved to 3-8 under interim manager Grady Sizemore.
In Monday's series opener against the Giants, rookie starter Jonathan Cannon pitched four scoreless frames before coming unglued in the fifth. Things snowballed as the Giants reeled off five consecutive hits, capping off the rally with Heliot Ramos' sacrifice fly. San Francisco added another run in the sixth on Matt Chapman's homer.
No White Sox game is complete without wasted scoring opportunities. In the third, they loaded the bases after Dominic Fletcher led off with a double, Corey Julks walked, and Brooks Baldwin reached base on a perfectly executed bunt. However, Lenyn Sosa struck out and Luis Robert Jr. grounded into an inning-ending double-play.
Robert Jr. had put the Sox ahead 1-0 with an RBI single that plated Baldwin, who reached on a walk and stole second. The White Sox rookie middle infielder went 2-for-2 with a run scored, a stolen base, and two walks in the contest but hit a 0-for-6 skid over the next two games. Chicago put the tying runs on second and third with two outs in the ninth, but Korey Lee flew out to end the game.
In the second game of the series, Robbie Ray dominated the White Sox over 6.2 innings. The former Cy Young winner allowed three hits, struck out nine, and issued no walks. Chicago's lone run came in the third when Lenyn Sosa's two-bagger plated Fletcher, who reached on a one-out single. Gavin Sheets recorded the only other hit in the seventh with a single.
Win No. 31
The South Siders bounced back in Wednesday's matinee with some late dramatics. Korey Lee, who struck out to end the game in the series opener with the tying run on second, came through with a tie-breaking two-run single in the ninth.
A throwing error on the play allowed Corey Julks, who pinch-ran for Andrew Vaughn, and Lee to advance to second and third.
Robert Jr. and Andrew Benintendi started the rally with consecutive walks. Vaughn reached on an infield single to load the bases.
Sosa followed with his two-run single to extend the lead to four. The ninth-inning rally and a scoreless ninth from John Brebbia sealed the win and wasted a stellar outing by Giants ace Logan Webb.
Webb tossed eight innings of two-run ball, allowing five hits and no walks while fanning six. Garrett Crochet pitched four innings and surrendered two runs in the fourth. Fraser Ellard earned the win for Chicago and contributed one of five scoreless innings from White Sox relievers.
Notes
In the Giants series, the White Sox' relief crew tossed 10.2 innings, allowed one run on eight hits and five walks, and fanned 14.
Luis Robert Jr. went 5-for-12 with three runs, a walk, and an RBI in the series. For the two-city trip , the center fielder went 10-for-25, homered twice, drove in five runs, and scored five runs. Robert Jr. started the month on an abysmal 4-for-43 slump, during which he struck out 18 times.
Davis Martin took the loss in the second game of the Giants series but has pitched well overall. In his last three starts , the righty tossed 16 innings, allowing three earned runs on 10 hits and six walks while striking out 14.
Matt Foster's return from Tommy John surgery and recovery was abbreviated when the White Sox added Enyel De Los Santos. The White Sox optioned Foster to Triple-A Charlotte to open a roster spot for the recent waiver claim.
Gordon Beckham and Len Kasper comprised the White Sox' TV broadcast team in San Francisco. The broadcast included a cameo from the Giants team of Mike Krukow and Duane Kiper, who had some fun at Beckham's expense.
What's On Tap Next?
The White Sox return home for a 10-game homestand, their longest of the season, featuring series against the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, and New York Mets. Chris Flexen will start Friday's series opener against Detroit's Keider Montero. Chicago is 2-22 in Flexen's starts , with the last win on May 8.
On Saturday, Ky Bush will toe the rubber against Cy Young front-runner Tarik Skubal. Bush allowed two runs over six innings and exhibited improved command in his start against Houston.
The Tigers haven't announced their starters for Sunday and Monday's games, while Jonathan Cannon and Davis Martin will start for the White Sox.
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