White Sox: Ivan Nova’s Quality Start Wasted in Return to New York
Late-inning error from White Sox infielder proves to be costly as a quality start was wasted with the offense unable to provide any run support.
After ending their season-long five-game losing streak on Friday night, the Chicago White Sox were unable to follow that up with a win on Saturday afternoon. Ivan Nova‘s return to the Bronx ended with a quality start but not with a victory as the White Sox were shutout 1-0.
A costly error in the seventh inning doomed the White Sox, but the offense didn’t provide Nova with any run support. Yankees starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia held the Sox offense in check throughout the afternoon despite pitching five innings.
The Sox would manage just one hit on Saturday courtesy of Jose Rondon. Ironically, Rondon would be replaced in the game in favor of a pinch-hitter. That move would prove to be costly for the Sox.
With Nova pitching against the team he made his major league debut with, the Sox offense once again couldn’t provide the veteran pitcher with any run support. Similar to his Sox debut against the Cleveland Indians on April 1, Nova pitched well but didn’t come away with a win. On Saturday, Nova pitched six innings while allowing just one earned run and recording four strikeouts.
The lone earned run that Nova allowed crossed the plate when he was out of the game. After allowing a single from Gleyber Torres in the seventh inning, Nova was pulled from the game by Sox manager Rick Renteria. He would be replaced by Jace Fry. Fry would be unable to prevent the lone batter he faced in Greg Bird from reaching base due to a costly error from Yolmer Sanchez.
Sanchez entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning. He would strikeout to lead off that inning. In the seventh inning, with a routine ground ball hit to him off of the bat of Bird that would’ve likely been a double play, Sanchez botched the play. The Yankees would ultimately score three of their four runs in the seventh inning after Sanchez’s error.
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With the loss, the Sox dropped their record on the season to 4-9. The Sox will conclude their series with the Yankees on Sunday. Carlos Rodon will start for the Sox in the series finale as he looks for his second win of the season.