If you stopped watching the game when Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s fly ball became a home run as Leury Garcia couldn’t complete the catch and fell over the center field wall, nobody could blame you. White Sox starting pitcher Ivan Nova, who had only allowed two runs in his last two starts covering 13 innings, reverted back to his poor form we saw for most of April.
In the first inning, Tim Anderson made one of the best defensive plays by the White Sox in 2019. On a chopper two-hopper by Guerrero Jr. in the hole between short and third, Anderson flashed his vast range to grab the ball and make a jump throw fading away to first base on one hop in time to nail Guerrero Jr.
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The high from that great play lasted one minute because Justin Smoak crushed a solo home run to right field, giving Toronto the early 1-0 lead. Then it became a 3-0 lead when Danny Jansen hit a two-run homer in the second inning.
The game got out of hand in the third when Nova allowed four runs on three hits and two walks, and Toronto had a very comfortable 7-0 lead.
The White Sox did score twice in the bottom half when they started with the bases loaded and no outs. Leury Garcia picked up an RBI on a fielders choice, and Yoan Moncada singled to drive in the second run.
After Guerrero Jr.’s home run, Nova’s night was finally done. Just lasting three innings, Nova allowed 8 H 9 R 8 ER 4 BB 1 K 3 HR. His season ERA balloons back up to 7.42.
Offensively, the White Sox only managed five hits on the evening as it appeared everyone had an off night.
Game Notes:
- Aaron Bummer threw another scoreless inning to extend his streak to 10.1 innings.
- Tim Anderson and Yoan Moncada both went 2-for-4.
Record: 20-23 | Box Score | Highlights
