After three consecutive wins, a series sweep by the Chicago White Sox over the Houston Astros, the “Good Guys” have a day off before embarking on a five-game road slate with the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend, followed with a two-game stint in Pittsburgh.
What a three-game series that was for the White Sox, where not only did they win all three games, but the starting pitchers all gained wins. Plus closer David Robertson gained three straight saves where he pitched some of his best baseball to date.
The wins went to very strong pitching performances by Chris Sale, Carlos Rodon and Jose Quintana, where combined they allowed just two earned runs. That type of performance should become close to the norm when those three take the mound more often than not.
Is it too much to ask that the 1-4 starters of the White Sox … the aforementioned three starters and Jeff Samardzija to not allow over 10 combined earned runs in a given week, or is that just an outrageous expatiation by me? I mean three of them combined allowed just two in a three-game span.
Jun 9, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) throws a pitch against the Houston Astros during the first inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
The fact the trio of White Sox starters struck out 22 batters the past three games isn’t what impresses me the most, but the fact they walked a combined five batters in 21 innings is the stat that jumps out the most for me from the past three games. That’s a very good number, and the more free bases they allow, the less the opposition has a chance of scoring runs.
Sale, Rodon and Quintana also allowed just 15 hits in the same three-game span in the sweep of the Astros, and the fact just two earned runs were allowed (Rodon tossed a shutout) also was huge for not only this group, but for the bullpen as well. Hopefully it has given them the opportunity to regroup after some tough times this season.
Even Robertson this series against the first-place Astros was nearly un-hittable. He allowed just two hits with no runs or walks given up in three consecutive save appearance against Houston. He also struck out three batters as well, gaining his 11th, 12th and 13th saves of the season.
Robertson’s ERA sits at 2.03 on the year.
No onto Tampa Bay to see if this momentum can continue against a Rays team that is 32-28 overall, 1.5 games back of the New York Yankees in the AL East. The White Sox enter the series with a 28-30 record, 6.5 games back of the AL Central first-place Kansas City Royals.
The White Sox are 12-18 on the road this season.
Now for White Sox headlines:
• Hahn: ‘A lot of optimism’ with White Sox Draft: By Scott Merkin of WhiteSox.com.
• Levine: Defensive Mistake Rankles White Sox Manager Robin Ventura: By Bruce Levine of CBSChicago.com.
• Beckham back at ‘natural’ position: By Scot Gregor of DailyHerald.com.
• White Sox hope Melky Cabrera can build off Tuesday’s baby step: By JJ Stankevitz of CSNChicago.com.
Next: Jose Quintana strong in win over Astros