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White Sox: Get the day off after another rough loss to Pirates

By Kristen Bentley

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 09: Nate Jones #65 of the Chicago White Sox leaves the field after giving up the game winning runs in the 9th inning to the Pittsburgh Pirates at Guaranteed Rate Field on May 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Pirates defeated the White Sox 6-5. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 09: Nate Jones #65 of the Chicago White Sox leaves the field after giving up the game winning runs in the 9th inning to the Pittsburgh Pirates at Guaranteed Rate Field on May 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Pirates defeated the White Sox 6-5. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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The White Sox have started May just like they finished April with more losses than wins.

Fortunately, after losing two to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the White Sox get to enjoy a much-needed day off. Even though they already had one earlier in the week.

With another day off, no one can blow a lead.

Not quite last, yet

The two-game series ended Wednesday afternoon with a one-run loss to the Pirates. This puts the Sox record at 9-25 on the season. Sadly, there are only two teams left with single-digit wins. The other team is the Baltimore Orioles with their 9-27 record. Even the Cincinnati Reds have 10 wins now.

Like the Tuesday game, the Sox started the game with a lead, but this time kept it. The team even scored what seemed like an insurance run in the eighth, entering the ninth with a 5-2 lead over the Bucs.

Testing the true fans

But, no. Not this season. The Sox pitching staff is working very hard to build true fans.

Nate Jones took the mound with the three-run lead. He gave up a pair of singles and a ground-rule double that brought them both in. Then, Colin Moran hit a bomb to center field at the lead belonged to the Pirates.

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In the bottom of the ninth, the Sox batters were done as Felipe Vasquez saw the minimum.

Offense needs pitching support

It shouldn’t be this hard for the Sox to get a win. The offense is getting the job done and they are starting to make it look easy. Tim Anderson and Daniel Palka hit home runs on early pitches in their counts. And, Welington Castillo added another extra-base hit to his stats. Along with Jose Rondon, those three were responsible for all of the Sox runs in this game.

Hopefully, the second day off this week will give the Sox some time to gather their thoughts before the team heads north to Addison Street. The Cubs are currently in fourth place in the NL Central, but that race is very different than the AL Central. Four teams in the NL Central have winning records, with the Cubs sitting at 19-15. In the AL Central, no teams have winning records. The Cleveland Indians are atop the division with a .500 record of 18-18.

Next: Time to move Eloy Jimenez to Triple-A

It certainly would be nice if the Sox could get a win over their biggest rivals and finally get to 10 wins. The Sox actually have a chance as Carson Fulmer faces Tyler Chatwood.

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