July 29—The Cleveland Indians trade 9-year veteran second baseman César Hernández to the White Sox for AA RHP Konnor Pilkington, who came to the Sox from Mississippi State in the third round of the 2018 draft. Hernandez won the AL Golden Glove at 2B in 2020. His season-to-date batting average of .231 is down from his career average of .272.
July 26—Outfielder Luis Robert to continue rehab at Charlotte Knights (AAA), moving up from Winston-Salem Dash (A+).
Royals win series 3-1
Monday, July 26, 2021 at 7:10 pm CDT
Kauffman Stadium
Dallas Keuchel, LHP vs.
Royals / Mike Minor, LHP
L, 4-3, 59-41 (.590), L1 | LP: Dallas Keuchel (7-4, 4.32) | Game 100
DEFENSE: Dallas Keuchel allows 4 R on 6.0 IP (6 H, 4 R/ER, 1 BB, 3 SO), including 2 solo HRs by Jorge Soler, and a third by Andrew Benintendi. Cori Heuer (1-2-3, 0 SO) and Garrett Crochet (2 H, 1 BB, 2 SO) finish out the game, pitching a scoreless inning each. OFFENSE: Andrew Vaughn 2-RBI 1B in the 6th. Adam Engel RBI 1B in the 9th. Fresh off the IL, Eloy Jiménez goes 0-for-4, but is visibly excited to be back in the lineup. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at 7:10 pm CDT
Kauffman Stadium
Dylan Cease, RHP vs.
Royals / Brad Keller, RHP
W, 5-3, 60-41 (.594), W1 | WP: Reynaldo Lopez (1-0, 2.00) | S: Liam Hendriks (25) | Game 101
DEFENSE: Dylan Cease allows 3 R on 6.0 IP (6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO). Reynaldo López (1 SO), Michael Kopech (3 SO), and Liam Hendriks (1 SO) pitch a 1-2-3, no-hit inning each. OFFENSE: Eloy Jiménez 3-run HR (1) off Kyle Zimmer in the 8th. Jiménez also shines defensively, making two difficult running catches in the 4th, and throwing Michael A. Taylor out at home in the 2nd. Gavin Sheets solo HR (6) in the 4th Yoán Moncada RBI groundout in the 8th. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at 7:10 pm CDT
Kauffman Stadium
Lucas Giolito, RHP vs.
Royals / Kris Bubic, LHP
L, 3-2, 60-42 (.588), L1 | LP: Ryan Burr (2-1, 3.26) | Game 102
DEFENSE: Lucas Giolito gives up just 1 R, striking out 7, on 6.0 IP (4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB). Aaron Bummer (2 SO) and Michael Kopech (0 SO) pitch a no-hit inning each, before Liam Hendriks gives up the tying run—a Salvador Perez solo HR—in the 9th. A Michael A. Taylor 1B brings in the automatic runner to win the game for the Royals in the 10th. OFFENSE: The White Sox 5 H are all off starter Kris Bubic (3 SO). The Royals bullpen strikes out 6. Danny Mendick 2-RBI 1B in the 5th brings in Andrew Vaughn (1B) and Leury García (1B). Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Thursday, July 29, 2021 at 1:10 pm CDT
Kauffman Stadium
Carlos Rodón, LHP vs.
Royals / Carlos Hernández, RHP
L, 5-0, 60-43 (.583), L2 | LP: Carlos Rodón (8-5, 2.49) | Game 103
DEFENSE: Carlos Rodón allows 8 H and 4 R on 4.0 IP (4 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO), starting with a 2-run HR by Salvador Perez in the 1st. He gives up a solo HR to Michael A. Taylor in the 2nd, and Hunter Dozier brings in Carlos Santana on a sac fly in the 3rd, making it 4-0 Royals. Rodón’s velocity is a few MPH lower than normal through the first couple of innings. With Reynaldo López pitching in the 5th, Jorge Soler reaches on an E6 (Leury García), then advances to third on a Hunter Dozier 2B, and scores on a Michael A. Taylor sac fly. López goes 1-2-3 in the 6th (1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO on 2.0 IP). Ryan Burr delivers 2.0 no-hit innings, giving up 2 BB (0 SO). The White Sox turn a 4-5-3 double play to finish out the 8th. OFFENSE: Royals starter, Carlos Hernández, gives up just 4 H and 1 BB to the White Sox on 6.0 IP (4 SO). Their bullpen allows just one more hit and strikes out 5, for the shutout. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
The 2021 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline is Friday, July 30 at 4:00 pm EDT.
White Sox win series 2-1
Friday, July 30, 2021 at 7:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field
Lance Lynn, RHP vs.
Indians / J.C. Mejia, RHP
W, 6-4, 61-43 (.587), W1 | WP: José Ruiz (1-1, 2.90) | S: Liam Hendriks (26) | Game 104
DEFENSE: Lance Lynn gives up 3 R on 7 H for a 5-inning no decision (3 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO). Garrett Crochet and Aaron Bummer pitch a clean inning each. But Ryan Tepera’s White Sox debut in the 8th is less-than-illustrious. He gives up a HR and a 1B, then issues a BB, before being replaced by José Ruiz, who retires the next three to end the inning (the first out comes on a sac bunt that loads the bases with Indians). Lethal Liam Hendriks goes 1-2-3 (2 SO) for the save (26). OFFENSE: In the 2nd, a one-in-a-million situation occurs when Cleveland outfielders Bradley Zimmer and Daniel Johnson collide at the center-field wall, both running to catch Yoán Moncada’s line drive, which rebounds out of Zimmer’s glove, sending it over the wall for a solo HR that should have been a lineout. Brian Goodwin RBI 1B brings Moncada in from second base, in the 4th. Then, with one out and two on, Leury García grounds into a force out at second, beats the throw to first for a base hit, and brings in a run. Andrew Vaughn run-scoring BB in the 5th. Tim Anderson RBI 1B in the 8th, before José Abreu HBP with bases loaded and no outs forces the final run of the game. “Controlled pandemonium” ensues…
When James Karinchak hits José Abreu in the noggin with a 96 MPH fastball, Tony La Russa rushes out of the dugout to confront Indians catcher Roberto Pérez—a run that launches a thousand memes (see below). Both benches clear, but no blows are exchanged. In the end, Abreu hugs Karinchak and takes his base.
Tony La Russa on tempers flaring after José Abreu HBP
Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Saturday, July 31, 2021 at 6:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field
Dallas Keuchel, LHP vs.
Indians / Triston McKenzie, RHP
L, 12-11, 61-44 (.581), L1 | LP: Michael Kopech (3-1, 2.55) | Game 105
Rookie catcher Seby Zavaya goes 4-for-4, becoming the first Big League player ever to slam his first three career HRs in a single game—and the second of his three consecutive homers just happens to be a Grand Slam! He tops off the night with a 1B on his 4th and final at bat of the game. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Sunday, August 1, 2021 at 1:10 pm CDT
Guaranteed Rate Field
Jimmy Lambert, RHP vs.
Indians / Cal Quantrill, RHP
W, 2-1, 62-44 (.585), W1 | WP: Liam Hendriks (5-2, 2.47) | Game 106
Game highlights from mlb.com
August 1—Outfielder Billy Hamilton is back on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain, the same injury that landed him there on June 6. This is Hamilton’s third time on the IL this season.
July 7—The White Sox have designated veteran outfielder Adam Eaton for assignment. Since signing a one-year deal for $8 million in December, Eaton has struggled at the plate. According to manager Tony La Russa, Eaton has been dealing with “leg miseries” all season. He was on the injured list from June 17 to July 2 with a hamstring injury. Before re-signing with the White Sox this year, Eaton spent the past four seasons with the Washington Nationals, batting near the top of the order in 2019 when the Nationals won the World Series.
Eaton signs with the Angels as a free agent on 7/14.
July 2—After a record-setting start to the season, super slugger Yermín Mercedes hit an extended slump and has been optioned to the Charlotte Knights (AAA). Mercedes had batted just .155 over his last 30 games.
