Week of April 19-25, 2021

Four-Game Series at Boston Red Sox (Final Game)

Split series 2-2

Lucas Giolito pitches 1.0 innings plus 2 batters in the 2^nd, giving up 8 runs (0 SO, 2 BB). “They had a solid approach against me. I pitched right into it, and they didn’t miss.” (Giolito) Reliever Zack Burdi allows 4 hits and gives up 2 more runs in 3.0 IP (3 SO, 1 BB, 4 H). José Ruiz holds the line for 2.0 IP (4 SO, 1 BB, 1 H, 0 R). Then Tony La Russa throws up the white flag putting in position players DH Yermín Mercedes who gives up the final run in the 7^th on 1.0 IP (0 SO, 2 BB, 3 H), and SS Danny Mendick (1 SO, 0 BB, 1 H, 0 R) in the 8^th. The last two times that multiple position players pitched in a White Sox game were in 2015 (Alexei Ramírez and Leury García) and 1902 (Sam Mertes and Frank Isbell). Mercedes becomes the third player in White Sox history to DH and pitch in the same game (Adam LaRoche 7/31/2015, Adam Dunn 8/5/2014), and the first non-pitcher to make his fielding debut as a pitcher since Dee Moore on 9/20/1936. His last mound appearance was a three-inning outing for the White Sands, NM Pupfish (Pecos League) in 2014. José Abreu is officially in a funk (0-4, .188). Nick Madrigal’s bat is heating up (1-4, 3B, .300). Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

Two-Game Series at Cleveland Indians

White Sox win only game played (1 game postponed)

Despite walking 9 and committing 3 errors (1 BB and 0 E for the Tribe), the Sox landed a win. Carlos Rodón gave up his first earned run of the season to Jordan Luplow (HR) in the 3^rd, striking out 8 in 5.0 IP (5 BB, 3 H, 2 R). José Abreu’s solo home run in the 4^th was the hardest (115.6 MPH) and farthest (458’) hit of his career. His second HR in the 7^th marked his 18th career multi-homer game—third in White Sox history behind Paul Konerko (26) and Frank Thomas (29). Yasmani Grandal 2-run HR. Tim Anderson solo HR. Yoán Moncada double. With his tendancy to reach out to grab incoming pitches, Yasmani Grandal was charged with 2 catcher’s interference errors. With 1 out in the 8^th, the White Sox battery loads the bases with Indians on two walks from Garrett Crochet (0-2, 1.50) and Grandal’s second error of the day. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

Three-Game Series vs. Texas Rangers

White Sox sweep 3-0

Dylan Cease is pulled after 3 ⅓ IP (5 SO, 3 BB, 3 H, 2 ER), still unable to make it through a 5-inning start this season. Liam Hendriks strikes out 5 of 6 and gives up a solo HR to Adolis Garcia for a 1 ⅔ inning save. With the game tied at 6 in the 7^th, Yermín Mercedes scores Luis Robert on a go-ahead double, marking his 4^th hit in 4 at-bats on the day (3 RBI). Adam Eaton ground-rule double with 2 RBIs. Yoán Moncada bats in 3, Nick Madrigal 1. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

April 23—Billy Hamilton activated from IL

Dallas Keuchel pitches 6.0+ innings, allowing 7 H, but no R—earned or otherwise (2 SO, 0 BB). With the White Sox leading 1-0 in the 9^th, Liam Hendriks retires 3 of 4 with 2 SO, but blows the save on a Willie Calhoun solo HR. With the game tied at 1, Nick “Nicky Two Strikes” Madrigal doubles on 0-2 with 2 outs, for the first walk-off hit of his career off Rangers reliever John King. Madrigal has reached in 16 of his 17 starts this season. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

Michael Kopech shines with 10 SO (0 BB, 4 H, 1 R) on 5.0 IP. Newly called up RH reliever Jonathan Stiever struggles, giving up a hit to each of the 4 Rangers he faces for 3 ER on 0.0 IP. Garrett Crochet picks up the slack with 1 SO, 1 BB, 3 H, 0 R on 3.0 IP. José Ruiz closes (1 SO, 1 BB, 1 H). José Abreu 2-run HR in the 1^st, sac fly in the 2^nd. Tim Anderson 2B with 1 RBI, Adam Eaton 3B with 1 RBI in the 2^nd, sac bunt in the 3^rd. Nick Madrigal 1B extends to 2B on E9 in the 2^nd, then hits a bona fide 3B with 2 RBI in the 3^rd. It takes Kohei Arihara 40 pitches to get out of the 1^st inning and 30 more to get out of the 2^nd before calling it a day (0 SO, 4 BB, 6 H, 5 ER). Watch game highlights from mlb.com: