White Sox: Carlos Rodon’s Strong Start Wasted by Bullpen
White Sox left-hander has another strong start but can’t get the win as bullpen blows save and allows Toronto to score five runs in the ninth inning.
The Chicago White Sox were unable to win its first series of the second half as they blew a one-run lead in the ninth inning to the Toronto Blue Jays. After a strong start from Carlos Rodon, the Sox were defeated at home 7-4 by the Blue Jays.
Rodon had another solid outing for the Sox as he pitched 7.2 strong innings on Sunday afternoon. The left-hander allowed just two earned runs along with one walk and recorded six strikeouts. Rodon would leave the game in the eighth inning with the Sox leading Toronto 3-2.
Unfortunately, the bullpen was unable to preserve the win for the Sox in the ninth inning. After trading closer Joakim Soria to Milwaukee earlier this week, the Sox don’t have anyone that has much experience closing games in their bullpen. This hurt the team on Sunday.
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Jace Fry was tasked with getting the save but blew the opportunity when Teoscar Hernandez hit a game-tying home run in the ninth inning. The Blue Jays would score five runs in the inning to take a commanding 7-3 lead. Toronto scored their five runs on three extra-base hits and a single in the ninth inning.
The Sox could only score one run in the bottom half of the ninth inning courtesy of a solo home run hit by Daniel Palka. With the loss, the Sox failed to win the series against Toronto and fell to 31 games under .500 with a 37-68 record.
Although Rodon had a good outing on the mound for the Sox, he was matched by the Blue Jays starting pitcher in a duel on Sunday. Ryan Borucki, a native of Mundelein, Ill. started for Toronto and also pitched well. Borucki, wearing no. 56 in honor of his favorite Sox player Mark Buehrle, pitched six innings and recorded five strikeouts while allowing just two earned runs.
The Sox offense managed six hits against Borucki, but couldn’t capitalize on scoring opportunities to get more runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Omar Narvaez and Matt Davidson were the only Sox players with multiple hits, and Jose Abreu had three strikeouts at the plate. Narvaez had another big day at the plate with three hits, including a triple and a solo home run.
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Monday will be an off day for the Sox before they start their next series on Tuesday at home against the Kansas City Royals. James Shields will start the series opener against one of his former teams.