Chicago White Sox: Series Review with Detroit Tigers
Apr 17, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder
Adam Eaton(1) receives congratulations from Chicago White Sox first base coach
Daryl Boston(32) after he hits a single in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
If there ever was an emotional series in April for the Chicago White Sox it was this one they just completed at Comerica Park against the Detroit Tigers.
There was a roller coaster of emotions for the fans of the “Good Guys,” with an stunned Friday, celebrating Saturday and a Sunday with anger.
Friday saw the White Sox not challenge a play at second base, ultimately leading to a 2-1 loss to start the series, overshadowing a fine performance by Jeff Samardzija, who pitched eight strong innings.
Saturday was more exciting for every White Sox fan as they completely dominated at the plate and on the mound for a 12-3 victory with Chris Sale gaining the win.
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Sunday the White Sox must have decided they scored too many runs the previous game, because they lost that game to Shane Greene and the Tigers, 9-1, as Jose Quintana allowed nine earned runs.
Finishing 1-2 in this three-game series saw the White Sox fall to 4-7 overall.
What went wrong in this series?
Besides Sunday the White Sox had great starting pitching from Sale and Samardzija, but the hitting wasn’t there for two of the three games played.
On Friday and Sunday the White Sox scored just one run in each of those games, but add in the 12-runs on Saturday and the two teams scored the same amount of runs this series at 14 each.
At the plate this series the White Sox were 27-of-101 (11 walks) in the three games combined, with Melky Cabrera having a series of 6-of-13 with two RBIs.
Jose Abreu was 4-for-13 with five RBIs, one triple and one grand slam in the series. Also with a solid series was Adam LaRoche 4-for-12 with four RBIs and one walk. LaRoche also hit a three-run home run in the Saturday win.
Not one player on the White Sox had at least one hit in each of the three games.
Apr 18, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
White Sox pitching allowed 14 earned runs (nine by Quintana) with four home runs in three days.
The starting pitching on Friday and Saturday by Samardzija and Sale allowed just three earned runs in 14 combined innings, including Samardzija on Friday where he allowed one earned run on eight hits and no walks.
Sale allowed two earned runs in his six innings on just four hits and one walk. Combined the duo struck out 13 Detroit batters, with Samardzija having seven and Sale with six.
Relief pitchers for the White Sox allowed a combined two earned runs, with one by Zach Duke on Friday (the game-winning run), and Kyle Drabek with one run allowed on Saturday.
Drabek pitched three innings this weekend with a combined two-game effort of three hits, two walks, two strikeouts and no home runs.
In the win-loss column was unsuccessful this weekend, and though there were some good moments in the series, overall it should have been much better, because it is still tough getting over the loss on Friday.
Now it is time to move onto the next series, which starts Monday at U.S. Cellular Field against the Cleveland Indians. The two teams split games this past week in Cleveland.