White Sox 4, Blue Jays 1 (5 innings): Rain-shortened affair gives the Sox the victory

White Sox win

If one were to awake from a cryogenically-frozen state after 13 years away, one could be forgiven for assuming that no time had passed at all. Today, starting for the Blue Jays on the mound was one Ryan Feierabend.

A 33-year-old lefty knuckleballer signed from the KBO, this was actually Feierabend’s second time facing the White Sox. The first time? September 24, 2006 as a member of the Seattle Mariners. In a who’s who of Sporcle answers, the Sox blew past the Mariners 12-7, on the strength of home runs from Brian Anderson, Paul Konerko, Joe Crede, and Juan Uribe.

In a fitting twist of fate, Feierabend’s final MLB start of his career before today came on September 23, 2008 against the Angels: a 7-year-old Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. might have watched his dad go 0-1 with a walk against Feierabend.

Going into today’s game, I was concerned the Sox might fare as they often do against a soft-tossing lefty starter: befuddled and feckless. That wasn’t the case, though, against Feierabend. Leury Garcia got things off on the right foot as he blasted a leadoff home run to left to put the Sox on the board first, his second on the season.

While the offense wouldn’t do anything further that inning (Anderson ground out, then Abreu was caught in a 1-3-6 run down after walking; McCann ground out), they were back at it in the second, this time with the remembrances of Wilbur Wood accompanying them (the broadcast booth had a fun interview with Wood, on the shared connection of Feierabend and Wood both being left-handed knuckleballers). Moncada lead off with a double to left, then Yonder Alonso plated him with a single to right. After Jose Rondon moved him to second with a groundout, Alonso took third on a passed ball. Tilson was up next, and he singled to center to make it 3-1 Sox.

Again, the Sox could do no further damage, but would strike again in the third, fueled by fortunate BABIP. Tim Anderson starting things with an excuse-me check swing single to right. Not to be outdone, Abreu blooped into right for a single of his own to put runners at first and second. After McCann popped up and Moncada flew out to right, Yonder Alonso came through again, this time beating the shift with a single to left to make it 4-1 Sox. While a wild pitch would get the Sox runners at second and third, Rondon flew out to left to keep the score there.

Lucas Giolito was starting today’s game, and he looked effective through five before the rain delay. The first inning was quiet thanks to good infield defense.. Vlad Guerrero, Jr. singled with one out, but Jose Rondon made a nice pick on a Justin Smoak ground ball to start the inning-ending double play.

In the second, the Jays were able to get their run back, beginning with a Tellez BABIP-fueled check swing single to left. After Grichuk flew out, Galvis doubled down the right field line to put runners at second and third. Brandon Drury then drove in Tellez with a groundout. That was all Toronto would get though, as Richard Urena flew out to end the inning.

The third was a 1-2-3 affair for Giolito, but the next frame saw him issue back-to-back walks with one out. After a mound visit, order was restored as he induced pop ups to Galvis and Drury to conclude the fourth. The fifth was Giolito’s most impressive and ultimately final inning: through driving rain, he struck out the side. Urena: called out; Luke Maile and Billy McKinney swinging. Thanks, Lucas! The game then entered a 2.5-ish hour rain delay before getting called.

Game Notes

  • Giolito’s final line: 5 IP, 3H, 1R, 2BB, 5K, 47-78 for strikes.
  • Leury Garcia added his seventh stolen base of the season.
  • Technically, this is Giolito’s first career complete game.
  • Moncada also had a nice pick in the third.

Record: 21-23 |Box Score |Highlights

Take a second to support Sox Machine on Patreon
5 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
evenyoudorn

Couple of sweet picks by Rondon. Much more glove than I’d have believed. Or lucky.

lil jimmy

or… all of the above.

As Cirensica

Nice recap. Love the quick historic bits. Thanks

knoxfire30

If I were the twins or indians, or really any team making a run for the AL wildcard I would be filing a grievance with the MLB today. How in the world did they not finish that game??? Delays happen, but to just call it with 4 innings to go in a 3 run game doesnt seem right. It stopped raining at about 530 and didnt rain the rest of the night. They should of had to wait it out and play.

As Cirensica

It is a rule that is equal to every team