White Sox lose to Orioles on grand slam, wild pitch

Jun 25, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles pinch runner

(9) scores the game winning run on a walk-off wild pitch in the twelfth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

A grand slam to tie the game in the eighth and a wild pitch in the 12th led to another loss for the Chicago White Sox, falling to the Baltimore Orioles, 5-4 in 12 innings at Camden Yards.

At least that was a new way for the White Sox to lose a game in 2014, as they fall to 36-43 on the season. Baltimore moves to 41-36.

Look at this stat in a Tweet from @ckamka 

That is a string of not only losing baseball (the White Sox have lost six of their last seven games), but maybe bad luck as well.

Is a bad bullpen considered bad luck?

Jun 25, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Chicago White Sox manager

(23) during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

I didn’t think so.

Yes, this team doesn’t quit, that’s great and all, but they can’t pitch when the game is on the line either, and the organization hasn’t done much to fix this problem as of late.

Oh, wait, my bad, they moved Andre Rienzo to the bullpen and put Scott Carroll in his spot. That swap might save the season.

OK, sorry for getting off track a bit, back to the loss on Wednesday.

Here is the sequence of the eighth inning (where the White Sox started with a 4-0 lead) and how the O’s tied the game:

Hector Noesi allowed a base hit … Don Cooper out for a visit … another single … Zach Putnam replaces Noesi … Cooper out again … fly out … another fly out …

Things are looking good for a second straight win. A quick look at Noesi’s numbers: seven innings pitched, two earned runs, nine hits, no walks and two strikeouts.

That’s a solid outing for the No. 4 starter.

Scott Downs now replaces Putnam … a walk to Chris Davis … another pitching change with Javy Guerra to the mound with the bases loaded … Nelson Cruz hits a grand slam … game tied at four.

That’s a quick version of how a team can lose a lead with four pitchers in one inning.

Fast-forward to the bottom of the 12th, where Daniel Webb came in to relieve Jake Petricka, as it is known Webb has had some control issues lately.

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Webb walks Nick Hundley, who is replaced by David Lough on the bases. Lough reaches third on a base hit by Nick Marakis … and then the reliable bullpen we’ve come to love has a wild pitch from Webb that scored Lough to end the game.

That sums up the game pretty much, with Webb being charged with the loss. The win went to Baltimore’s Tommy Hunter.

And what really hurts is such a good effort with a 4-0 lead headed into the eighth inning was crumbled up like a piece of notebook paper and tosses into the trash can.

A 4-for-5 night by Adam Eaton (a career-high) was for naught. Jose Abreu was 2-for-5 with his 23rd home run of the season. That was a waste.

Eleven hits by the White Sox, including doubles from Adam Dunn and Alejandro De Aza, plus a triple by Eaton didn’t help gain a win, because the bullpen seems to not be able to handle the pressure of keeping the lead and finishing off the win.

Maybe tomorrow will be a bit different for the “Good Guys” as they begin a four-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays in Canada. The pitchers will be Scott Carroll for the White Sox and J.A. Happ for the host Blue Jays.