Red Sox 9, White Sox 8 (10 innings): Wildness begets wildness

I followed this game from a few different locations with gaps in between, so feel free to fill in any details I missed with the bullet-point recap:

*The White Sox should’ve won a game that they led 8-7 heading into the eighth inning. They probably should’ve won a game where they had runners on the corners with nobody out in the 10th while trailing by one.

*The White Sox probably shouldn’t have won a game that they trailed 7-2 after three, which they did after Dylan Cease, whose control wobbled in the first inning, collapsed during a seven-run third inning in which he issued three consecutive walks and gave up a three-run homer.

*Poor Boston defense and a reversal of fortune on drives down the line helped the White Sox tie it up. They loaded the bases with one out in the fourth on a walk, error and sky-high chopper infield single. Brian Goodwin walked to drive in a run, and after César Hernández missed a bases-clearing double by a foot down the right-field line before striking out, Luis Robert cleared the bases with a double down the left-field line. Yoán Moncada then sliced his down double in the same direction to tie the game at 7.

*Yasmani Grandal, who had a huge game, gave the Sox their only lead in the fifth with a solo shot.

*In their fifth full inning of relief, the White Sox bullpen gave the run back. Criag Kimbrel gave up a one-out double to Christian Vazquez, who advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sac fly.

*The Red Sox then scored their run in the 10th off Mike Wright with a one-out single by Travis Shaw. But Wright got two other groundouts to end the inning, and seemed to do his job well enough when Grandal started out the 10th with a single that moved Eloy Jiménez to third.

*Josh Taylor struck out Leury García and Danny Mendick, followed by a Goodwin groundout to end the game. Andrew Vaughn would’ve been a superior choice to pinch-hit, but Tony La Russa said he wasn’t available due to sore legs, which would explain the major slump he’s in.

*Cease’s streak of 11 starts with three earned runs or fewer crashed to a halt with this line: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 5 BB, 5 K. He threw just 40 of 71 pitches for strikes.

*Grandal went 3-for-4 with a homer and a walk, although he grounded into a double play to put a dent in what would’ve been an impressive WPA total.

*Luis Robert outdid him in the hit column by going 4-for-5 with three doubles.

*José Abreu went 0-for-4 with two double plays and a strikeout, but still garnered the respect to be intentionally walked with a runner on second with two outs in the ninth for Eloy Jiménez.

*García hit a two-run shot in the second inning for the game’s first runs.

*Michael Kopech starred in the bullpen’s effort, striking out five over 2⅓ innings while allowing just one walk.

*Cleveland got no-hit for the third time this season to drop to 69-71, lowering the White Sox’s magic number to 11.

Record: 81-61 | Box score | Statcast

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LamarHoyt_oncrack

I know I have a bias toward fault finding with TLR, but how can you not consider pinch hitting Mendick vs a lefty with Vaughn sitting on the bench with a .900 OPS vs lefties basically idiotic?

Vaughn has struggled mightily lately and it’s no guarantee it changes the results, but still. TLR did not give them their best chance to win a game that they were in, bottom line. And it isn’t the first time.

Joist

Vaughn is hurt and wasn’t available. Maybe read the recap you’re commenting on?

LamarHoyt_oncrack

Sorry, my bad. Had overlooked that. Several people made the same comment last night though, nobody knew he was unavailable.

The radio broadcast mentioned his sore legs several times during the game and said as it was happening that Mendick was pinch-hitting because TLR never pinch-hits guys if they are sitting due to soreness/injury.

Tommy Lasorda had no qualms about doing it.

This wasn’t a World Series game.

Foulkelore

Yeah, I wish the tv broadcast relayed that information. I don’t remember them mentioning it at all. I still don’t pinch hit Mendick there, but at least no Vaughn makes sense.

Right Size Wrong Shape

I agree, as it was happening I was wishing they would just leave Sheets in to face the lefthander. I I just have no confidence in Mendick at the plate ever.

dwjm3

As Shingo has said a few times just fast forward me to the playoffs ….

We have been treated to a Twins game where we were down one run in the 9th and LaRussa doesn’t pinch hit for Leury

In said scenario he had Robert, Moncada, and Tim on the bench. Of course Tim and Robert might be our two most clutch hitters.

Last night we were treated two Mike Wright in the 10th after the team battled back so valiantly. Why no Ruiz or Crochet?

We are the mighty White Sox we only choose to win games when we feel like it.

This is just unwatchable product right now. Win one lose one …

We were graced with the fire drill managing of Coop and Ricky against Oakland last year. I’m starting to fear what LaRussa’s might have in store

jhomeslice

Wonder if Cease needs to rest a turn. He’s the only starter who hasn’t had one.

calcetinesblancos

I was watching the game at a bar and when I saw Wright on the mound I reflexively laughed out loud.

To Err is Herrmann

Mendiick reminds me of Schmendrik, which is Yiddish for a lazy, callow youth, as in:

Schmendrik! Get over here and take this luggage to room 237!

I guess TLR is favoring rest over going for home-field advantage, or really, he favors rest so he will have a healthy roster when we reach the playoffs, no matter which field we are on.

Having said that, I am on the Anyone-But-Mendick train. But, then, our bench, with all the soreness, is that not deep.