White Sox dominated by Miguel Gonzalez, feign surprise
By James Fegan
Winter. // Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Bryan Anderson–the organization’s No. 4 catcher heading into the season– taking a walk on a 3-2 count to load the bases with no one out in the top of the third, or Conor Gillaspie breaking up Baltimore starter Miguel Gonzalez‘s perfect game with a bloop single into short left to start the inning.
Those are the choices for White Sox offensive highlight of the night (Alejandro De Aza RBI GIDP is an honorable mention). Such are the pickings during a lifeless 3-1 loss in Baltimore to extend their all-AL East losing streak to seven.
Other than that, it’s a field of underwhelming contenders like Dayan Viciedo‘s two hard singles through the middle, De Aza battling like hell for the right to single with two outs in the eighth and stand at first base until the inning ended, and a splendid variety of Gillaspie’s decently-struck foul balls.
Miguel Gonzalez came into the game having allowed seven runs in four innings his last time out, and coming out of the bullpen in his two appearances prior to that. With that context, he probably welcomed the validation and confidence that comes with shutting down the White Sox–ostensibly a major league offense–for one run and just four singles over seven innings. The third inning was the only time Gonzalez allowed a runner to reach even second base, and De Aza quickly patting a changeup to J.J. Hardy put an end to that.
The Orioles weren’t much for the hard labor of sustained rallies, instead opting for the brutal simplicity of three solo shots off Jose Quintana. Adam Jones reached out and yanked a changeup that didn’t fade enough to give the Orioles a first inning lead, and J.J. Hardy and Brian Roberts added solo shots three batters apart from each other in the fifth. Steve Stone derisively referred to each shot to the power alley as “Camden Yards home runs.” The Orioles home stadium is no friendlier to long balls than U.S. Cellular Field, but it’s easy to see how such a notion could be made to seem ridiculous.
The White Sox need to go 7-16 to avoid a 100-loss season. Impossible is nothing.
Team Record: 56-83
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