Chicago White Sox Week in Review 8/12-8/18

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 16: James McCann #33 of the Chicago White Sox hits a grand slam home run during the eighth inning of the MLB game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 16, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 16: James McCann #33 of the Chicago White Sox hits a grand slam home run during the eighth inning of the MLB game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 16, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
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Chicago White Sox Tim Anderson
(Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

The Sox then traveled to Los Angeles to face Mike Trout and the Angels. Reynaldo Lopez took the mound to face Andrew Heaney. Lopez’s second-half success did not continue in this game. He allowed nine hits in 5.1 innings and gave up five earned runs. Mike Trout was a major problem, hitting a home run and accumulating three more hits. The offense gave him plenty of support, but when your team allows eight runs, you won’t win many games. Jose Abreu drove in three, homering twice, and Welington Castillo also homered. It wasn’t enough, as the Sox lost 8-7.

Friday night, the Sox were the talk of baseball when NBA Hall of Fame member Bill Walton joined Jason Benetti in the booth. It was wonderfully weird or truly terrible, depending on who you ask. Sox ace Lucas Giolito was on the mound, facing Patrick Sandoval in Sandoval’s second career start. Giolito struck out 11 in six innings, only allowing two runs while walking three. Mike Trout homered again, his 41st on the season. McCann went three for four, including another grand slam. In completely unrelated news, McCann began changing his last name to McSlam. The White Sox won 7-2 as Giolito picked up his 13th win of the season.

On Saturday, the White Sox used pitcher Hector Santiago and the Angels countered with Noe Ramirez. Ramirez is typically a reliever and he only pitched 1.1 innings. Santiago wasn’t terrible, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing two runs. The bullpen gave up four more runs after Santiago allowed solo home runs to Brian Goodwin and Justin Upton. Eloy Jimenez hit his 21st home run of the season, and McCann doubled. The game ended with a final score of 6-5, as the Angels got the better of the White Sox bullpen.

On Sunday the Sox tried to even up the series with the Angels. Dylan Cease took the mound for the second time during the week and he wasn’t good. The good? He struck out six, only walking one. The bad? He allowed home runs to Matt Thaiss and Kole Calhoun, allowing five earned runs through five innings. The only offensive highlight was Eloy, who homered and tripled. The Sox lost this one 5-2.

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