Chicago White Sox Morning BP: Pirates are the next road test
This weekend was a reality check for the Chicago White Sox as they realized they can’t win without manager Robin Ventura, with the skipper missing the past three games due to being at his daughter’s graduation.
OK, I’m joking … because they’ve won just 28 times (61 games played) with him around, but the White Sox were swept over the weekend by the Tampa Bay Rays, now five games under the .500 mark (28-33), seven games back of the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central.
Now the White Sox take their 12-21 road record to PNC Park for two games with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are 35-27 overall (six games back of the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central).
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As we take a final look back at this past weekend, just what went wrong for the White Sox against the Rays?
For starters the White Sox were outscored 14-11, losing all three games by two or less runs all three times, including one-run losses on Saturday and Sunday.
On Friday, Chicago was 1-for-3 with runners in scoring position, followed with performances of 2-for-9 Saturday and 1-for-9 Sunday. Batting 3-for-18 with RISP for two consecutive days won’t get a team many wins, and the White Sox proved that over the weekend.
Jun 13, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder
Andrew McCutchen(22) hits a single against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Looking to the Pirates they are 19-11 at home and have won four straight games, including a sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies this past weekend, and a win over the Milwaukee Brewers this past Wednesday.
The pitching matchups will be exciting in Pittsburgh, especially on Monday with Carlos Rodon (2-0, 2.66 ERA) vs. Francisco Liriano (3-5, 3.25 ERA) with that game having a 6:05 CT start time. Tuesday will be Jose Quintana (3-6, 4.00 ERA) vs. Charlie Morton (4-0, 2.05 ERA), also with the 6:05 p.m. CT start.
White Sox Headlines:
• Sale blames himself for loss after 12-strikeout game: By Scott Merkin of WhiteSox.com.
• White Sox: Making it look easy, Sale reaching historical marks: By Dan Hayes of CSNChicago.com.
• White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez losing sleep over poor series: By Daryl Van Schouwen of SunTimes.com
• Ryan Powers Signs With Chicago White Sox: By MURedHawks.com.
• White Sox-Pirates Preview: By Sports Illustrated
• Chris Sale, Mark Parent on 2-1 loss to Rays: Video by the Chicago Tribune
Next: White Sox need an upgrade at 2nd base