Week of August 16-22, 2021

Adam Engel Injured

August 16—Zack Burdi, RHP designated for assignment (CLAIMED BY ORIOLES ON 8/18)

Four-Game Series vs. Oakland Athletics

White Sox win series 3-1

DEFENSE: Dallas Keuchel faces 22 A’s in 5.0 IP, giving up 2 R/ER on 5 H (1 HBP, 2 BB, 2 SO). After giving up a HR with one out in the 2^nd, Keuchel loads the bases with A’s on a HBP and 2 BB, but manages to contain the damage to just one more run. Michael Kopech throttles up the velocity to retire 6 of 7 (1 BB, 3 SO—all Ks) in the 6^th and 7^th. After striking out the lead-off batter, in the 8^th, Craig Kimbrel gets himself into a jam—2 RISP on a HBP and a close-call, ground-rule 2B, with one out—then strikes out two more to end the inning. Liam Hendriks closes with three swinging strikeouts, for the save (27). That’s a total of 9 SO from the bullpen. OFFENSE: The Athletics score their only two runs in the 2^nd, and the White Sox peck away at their lead. César Hernández sac fly brings in Seby Zavala (singled, advanced to 3B on Tim Anderson 1B), in the 3^rd. Seby Zavala RBI 1B scores Luis Robert (singled, advanced to 2B on Brian Goodwin BB), in the 4^th. Eloy Jiménez RBI 1B brings in Tim Anderson (singled, advanced to 2B on César Hernández soft bunt 1B), in the 5^th. Seby Zavala sac bunt (safety squeeze) brings in Luis Robert (singled, stole 2B, advanced to 3B on Brian Goodwin GO), in the 6^th. Luis Robert solo HR in the 8^th. This is how “manufacturing runs” is supposed to work. Watch game highlights on mlb.com:

Yasmani Grandal Rehab Progress

DEFENSE: Appearing in his second start of the season, Reynaldo López allows just 1 H (2 BB, 4 SO) on 5.0 IP, earning his second win. Ryan Burr allows 2 H (0 BB, 1 SO) in the 6^th and 7^th. Mike Wright, Jr. (called up yesterday) faces 7 A’s in the 8^th and 9^th, to complete the shutout (1 H, 1 BB, 1 SO). OFFENSE: The White Sox take an early lead in the 2^nd, under unfortunate circumstances. Athletics starter, Chris Bassitt takes a 100.1-MPH comebacker in the face, as Brian Goodwin reaches for a single. Andrew Vaughn 2-run 1B brings in Eloy Jiménez (singled) and Yoán Moncada (singled, advanced to 2B on Brian Goodwin 1B). Jake Lamb–DH 3-run HR (6) scores Brian Goodwin (singled) and Andrew Vaughan (singled). José Abreu 3-run HR (25) brings in Jake Lamb–DH (walked) and César Hernández (singled), in the 4^th. Tim Anderson 3B, in the 6^th, scores Zack Collins (walked). Watch game highlights on mlb.com:

Chris Bassitt comebacker

➤ The Athletics later report that Chris Bassitt “is conscious and aware, and is on his way to the hospital.” Heading into the game, Bassitt led the AL in wins, with a record of 12-3. He began his major league career with the White Sox in 2014.

A tense evening at Sox Park, in which the threat of either team breaking the game open hangs in the air throughout. DEFENSE: Lance Lynn labors more than he usually has to. He faces 2 RISP with no outs in the 1^st, on a lead-off BB, a 1B, and 2 SB, then retires three in a row (2 SO—both Ks). He opens the 2^nd with another lead-off BB, then retires the next three (0 SO). He faces bases loaded with no outs in the 3^rd, on a lead-off 2B, an E5 (Tim Anderson), and a BB. In a remarkable feat of athleticism, Lynn dodges the bullet, striking out #4–DH and #5 in the A’s lineup (both Ks) and retiring #6 on a pop out. He gives up a solo HR, but retires the other three of four batters he faces, in the 4^th. At the end of 4, Lynn gets himself ejected—for behavior that the 3B umpire evidently deemed unsportsmanlike—during a routine inspection for sticky stuff. Lynn’s line: 3 H, 1 R/ER, 3 BB, 4 SO on 4.0 IP. Garrett Crochet takes the mound in the 5^th, pitching a scoreless 1⅔ (1 H, 1 BB, 0 SO). Garrett Crochet steps in to make the last out (K) in the 6^th, before giving up a lead-off 3B to Elvis Andrus, who scores on a sac fly, in the 7^th. With one out and a man on, Aaron Bummer finishes the inning with a K, a BB, and a GO. In the 8^th, Bummer goes GO, 1B, 1B, before Liam Hendriks takes over, with one out and two on. Hendriks retires the next two to end the 8^th, then throws three consecutive Ks in the 9^th, for the 5-out save (28). Earlier in the day, Hendriks publicly credits his wife for fixing his recent pitch tipping problem. OFFENSE: Eloy Jiménez RBI 2B, in the 1^st, brings in César Hernández (singled on a bunt). Luis Robert RBI 1B scores Yoán Moncada (walked, advanced to 2B on Brian Goodwin BB), in the 4^th. Robert rinses and repeats in the 6^th, knocking in Moncada (singled, advanced to 2B on Goodwin BB) for the White Sox third run. Watch game highlights on mlb.com:

Chris Bassitt update from A’s manager Bob Melvin:

DEFENSE: Dylan Cease starts out strong, going 1-2-3 in the 1^st and 2^nd, then waivers a bit, but comes through with a quality start—3 R/ER on 4 H (4 BB, 5 SO) on 6.0 IP. Cease’s outing ends in a no decision, with the score tied at 3. Michael Kopeck gives up a 2-run HR, in the 7^th (0 BB, 1 SO–K). In the 8^th, Ryan Burr throws back-to-back Ks, followed by back-to-back BBs, before ending the inning on a groudout. José Ruiz issues a BB and records three groundouts, in the 9^th. OFFENSE: Eloy Jiménez RBI 2B scores Luis Robert (singled, advanced to 2B on José Abreu BB), in the 1^st inning, which ends with the bases loaded. Andrew Vaughn 2-run HR (15) scores Eloy Jiménez (walked), in the 5^th. José Abreu reaches on E5, scoring Zack Collins (singled), in the 9^th. In the 4^th, the White Sox again load the bases (Joán Moncada 1B, Danny Mendick 1B, Zack Collins BB—all with two outs), but leave them stranded. Sox go down 1-2-3 in the 2^nd, 3^rd, 6^th, and 7^th. They get three outs and a BB in the 8^th. Watch game highlights on mlb.com:

Three-Game Series at Tampa Bay Rays

Rays win series 2-1

➤ Tim Anderson goes 3-for-6. He has knocked a base hit in 10 consecutive games.

➤ Despite having the best record in the AL, the Rays have been drawing attendance of just 8,000, on average.

DEFENSE: With the Rays coming off a 4-game sweep of the Orioles, Lucas Giolito gives up just 2 R/ER on 3 H (0 BB, 8 SO) on 7.0 IP. In the 8^th, Craig Kimbrel goes BB, LO, K on ⅔ IP. Aaron Bummer then issues a BB, allows a 1B that scores the inherited runner, intentionally walks Nelson Cruz, and gives up a 2-run 1B, before making the third out (GO). Garrett Crochet throws a hitless 9^th (1 BB, 2 SO–both Ks). Liam Hendriks goes 1-2-3, in the 10^th (1 SO). Ryan Tepera goes 1-2-3, in the 11^th, on a GO and 2 Ks. OFFENSE: Michael Wacha (9 SO) and the Rays bullpen strike out 16 Sox, in total. Luis Robert RBI 2B scores Tim Anderson (reached on E4), in the 1^st. In a productive 5^th, José Abreu RBI FC scores Tim Anderson (singled, advanced to 2B on PB, advanced to 3B on Luis Robert GO), and Yoán Moncada 2-run HR (11) brings in José Abreu. Tim Anderson lead-off, solo HR, in the 9^th, ties the game at 4—talk about a flare for the dramatic! But Sox leave two stranded, sending the game into extra innings. In the 11^th, Tim Anderson 1B brings in the automatic runner, and José Abreu RBI GO scores Anderson (advanced to 2B on Rays attempt to put out automatic runner at home, advanced to 3B on PB). Watch game highlights on mlb.com:

➤ Eloy Jiménez–DH goes 1-for-4. He has knocked a base hit in 10 consecutive games.

➤ Tim Anderson is not in today’s lineup.

DEFENSE: The Rays offense is at their best today. Starting with an RBI 2B, followed by a 2-RBI 2B in the 1^st, Dallas Keuchel has a tough outing—6 R/ER on 9 H, 2 BB, 3 SO on 5.0 IP. Mike Wright, Jr. goes 1-2-3 in the 6^th, then FO, BB/CS, FO in the 7^th. In the 8^th, Wright gives up back-to-back 2Bs (both score), before José Ruiz steps in to make the last two outs (1 SO). OFFENSE: Seby Zavaya solo HR (5), in the 3^rd. Eloy Jiménez–DH RBI 1B scores José Abreu (doubled), in the 6^th. José Abreu sac fly brings in César Hernández (singled, advanced to 3B on Brian Goodwin 2B), and Eloy Jiménez–DH RBI GO scores Brian Goodwin (advanced to 3B on Abreu sac fly), in the 8^th. José Abreu’s sac fly lands him in 7^th place in career RBIs in franchise history (one more than Carlton Fisk). Abreu leads the MLB in RBIs (92) this season. Watch game highlights on mlb.com:

Billy Hamilton to Rehab

➤ Eloy Jiménez goes 1-for-4, extending his hitting streak to 11 consecutive games.

➤ Tim Anderson is not in today’s lineup.

DEFENSE: Reynaldo López gives up 3 R/ER on 6 H, 0 BB, 4 SO on 4.0 IP. He goes 1-2-3 in the 2^nd and the 4^th. Garrett Crochet gives up 3 R/ER more on 1 H, 2 BB, 2 SO on 1⅔ IP. José Ruiz gives up 2 R/ER more on 2 H, 2 BB, 2 SO on 1⅓ IP. Ruiz balks in the 7^th, scoring the runner on 3B (who he had walked, then advanced to 2B on walk #2). Ryan Burr gives up the last R/ER on 3 H, 0 BB, 0 SO, in the 8^th. Fifteen of 22 runs scored by the Rays this series were scored with two outs. OFFENSE: Rays starter Chris Archer and reliever Shawn Armstrong strike out 8 Sox, allowing only 1 hit, through 4. Chris Mazza strikes out 2 more in the 5^th and 6^th. The scoreless Sox knock 7 H and draw 2 BB, against tough pitching, but can’t bring any home. Today is the second day of rest for Tim Anderson. The White Sox report that TA is experiencing “leg tightness.” Watch game highlights on mlb.com: