White Sox give up winning run in 9th; lose to Tigers
Apr 29, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox right fielder Dayan Viciedo (24) commits a three-base error on a ball hit by Detroit Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson (not pictured) in the eighth inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
The White Sox allowed four runs, with the last one in the top of the ninth being unearned, leading to a 4-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers, Tuesday in the first of two games against their AL Central rival.
Chicago, with the loss, drops back to below the .500 mark at 13-14 overall. This season, the White Sox are 2-3 against the Tigers, and five of their past nine games have been against the AL Central leaders.
The loss also breaks a two-game streak of wins built by Chicago.
Where did this all go wrong for the “Good Guys?”
For starters how about the top of the ninth inning, where Dayan Vicedo had a one-out, three-base error that allowed Austin Jackson to stand at third base.
Yes, unfortunately, Vicedo “dropped the ball” at the end of this game. Oh well, it is still April for one more day I guess, and there is always tomorrow. (I’m trying to be positive, here!)
Apr 29, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton (1) scores a run as Detroit Tigers catcher Bryan Holaday (right) bobbles the ball in the third inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Where the White Sox should have had two outs, Ronald Belisario (1-3, 6.32 ERA) struck out the next batter, and the game should have been over then.
But the error eventually haunted the White Sox at US Cellular Field with Bryan Holaday singling in Jackson on a bunt to Belisario for the White Sox loss.
That is how they lost the game, but the bottom of the seventh really left me looking for answers, and I’m still looking for some.
In that inning for the White Sox, Alejandro De Aza hit a one-out triple to right field on a line drive. Tyler Flowers even followed with a walk.
Finally having some momentum, how did this team respond? With consecutive strikeouts by Marcus Semien and Adam Eaton. I should give them a pass because they were a big part of the scoring earlier in the game, with Eaton having an RBI double, but at that moment, Justin Verlander owned them.
In the eighth, basically the same thing happened. Jose Abreu reached the bases with a one-out double with the score tied at 3-3, only to be left standing there as Adam Dunn was given first base, Viciedo was called out on strikes and Alexei Ramirez grounded out to end the inning.
At one point, the White Sox led 3-0 after three complete innings.
The third inning saw Eaton double to score Semien and Gordon Beckham bat in Eaton. Dunn capped off the inning with a double to score Beckham.
Jose Quintana had a no-decision in the start for the White Sox. In 6.0 innings pitched, he allowed three earned runs on eight hits and no walks. He did strike out 10.
No White Sox batter had multiple hits, with the team having seven.
Verlander also had a no-decision, as Joba Chamberlin was recorded as the winning pitcher, with one inning pitched. Joe Nathan had the save.
Like last night’s pitching performance, Quintana pitched well enough to keep the White Sox in the game, but they just weren’t able to put the rest of their game together to rally for a win.
We all might as well get used to these types of games, because there won’t be many easy wins, but the losses will be close, and those are always the toughest ones.
What else is there to say?
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