White Sox 5, Yankees 0 (Game 2): Tim Anderson puts stamp on second win

White Sox win

It probably would’ve been just fine had the White Sox capitalized with only two run-scoring hits in the eighth inning. The offense had been miserable with runners in scoring position all day before Andrew Vaughn and Reese McGuire shot singles through the infield to give the White Sox a 2-0 lead. With Michael Kopech throwing a sterling seven innings and the bullpen having enough depth to get through a second high-leverage game, they remained in strong position to take both games of the doubleheader.

But because Tim Anderson followed those singles with a three-run homer that silenced a Yankee Stadium crowd that spent all night booing him because Josh Donaldson deserves their support or something, it was perfect.

Anderson’s eighth three-hit game of the season had to be his most satisfying. Miguel Castro hung him a 1-1 slider, and Anderson redirected it into the short porch in right field. It would’ve only been in a homer in 18 of 30 parks, but the shape of Yankee Stadium made it a no doubter, and Anderson savored it.

Kopech had to take a backseat to the satisfying conclusion, but unlike Johnny Cueto’s scoreless outing earlier in the day, Kopech at least got the win to show for it.

Coming off an outing where his fastball dropped into the low-90s with a brief trip to the paternity list in between, it was unclear what Kopech had to offer. He quickly resolved that question with “his best.”

The box score says that Kopech only struck out six over seven innings, but he dominated the New York lineup just the same. His fastball topped out at 100 and averaged 97. He got 16 whiffs and 19 called strikes on 92 pitches, and he allowed only four hard-hit balls all game. He took a perfect game into the sixth inning before Rob Brantly of all people broke it up with a two-out double, and was exceptionally efficient until his final three batters of the game, when he walked his only two batters before striking out Estevan Florial to end the threat.

(In a neat bit of trivia, Kopech threw the equivalent of a perfect game in between hits allowed to the Yankees plus three outs.)

Luis Severino wasn’t nearly as tough to hit, but he firmed up when it mattered. He scattered eight hits over his seven shutout innings, foiling a couple of golden White Sox scoring opportunities along the way.

In the third inning, the White Sox had two on and one out after Anderson reached first on a ball that should’ve been called foul, because it clipped Anderson’s front spike in the batter’s box, deadening the ball into fair territory inside the third-base line. Severino responded by getting Yoán Moncada to ground out, and Luis Robert to strike out.

In the fifth, the Sox’s bottom three loaded the bases on a single, HBP and single. Anderson and Moncada hit weak grounders to each corner that resulted in forces at home, and Robert once again struck out. In the sixth, Gavin Sheets struck out with a runner on third and one out for the second time in as many grames, and Leury García couldn’t get him home, either.

Severino then ended his night by holding the White Sox hitless in two more RISP opportunities. They were 1-for-10 on his watch before the Sox struck for three hits in the eighth inning against the Yankee bullpen, but another strong starting pitching performance bought the bats the time they needed.

Bullet points:

*Sox Machine readers should remember the last doubleheader with such strong pitching.

*McGuire had a three-hit game from the ninth spot.

*Moncada and Robert both went 0-for-5 with seven stranded; Robert struck out thrice.

*The White Sox went 3-4 against the Yankees on the year, and 5-3 on the eight-game, seven-day road trip.

*Donaldson did not play.

Record: 21-20 | Box score | Statcast

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itaita

Felt like a karma day after what happened yesterday. Also a nice reminder that if the Sox even flash below average offense they can be dangerous to anybody.

dwjm3

I recall Donaldson getting himself tossed in silly fashion against us last year and we went on to win the series. He has a knack for doing dumb stuff. Cashman would have been wise to steer clear.

StockroomSnail

I know it makes me a bad person with bad priorities, but I can’t wait to see Josh Donaldson and every Yankees fan punched in the face.

That was some sweet sweet shooshing.

funkerdan

He’s been a jerk for a long time to the Sox just showboating and whatnot with the Jays and the Twins and now this sheet with the Yanks (not to mention last weekend). I can’t wait until he no longer plays this game. If the Sox acquired him, I’d boo him like I did with Adam Dunn, Adam Eaton, and Greg Norton (different reasons, of course).

andyfaust

Okay, i wanna know. why did you boo Norton? Donaldson, absolutely. Dunn and Eaton, sure, I get it. But why Norton? He wasn’t very good, but that’s a pretty long list of guys if that’s the criteria for booing. Did he snub you for an autograph 20 years ago? I’ll hang up and listen to your response.

joewho112

I have the same question. Was it because the team cast him as a Ventura replacement or was he an a-hole?

Right Size Wrong Shape

He grew tired of Wimpy’s Jackie Gleason impression.

ForsterFTOG

Everyone should always cheer for Greg Norton.

funkerdan

my bad. I’m sure I didn’t have a good reason. sometimes you just don’t like someone but all you can do is boo or ignore. I really only booed when he booted plays.

andyfaust

I’m not here to judge. Boo whoever you like. I was just hoping there was some interesting back story to it. Guess not. He worked in major league baseball as recently as last year with Boston, so in the off chance I happen to see him coaching somewhere one day, hopefully I will remember to boo him for absolutely no reason at all to everyone’s bewilderment. If someone asks why, i’ll say, “that was for funkerdan. he knows why.” That should clear up any confusion.

Joliet Orange Sox

Was there some confusion between the ballplayer Greg Norton and Greg Norton of Hüsker Dü who had a controversial mustache in the 80’s?

ForsterFTOG

If anyone cares, read up on what he had to go through before he got to the big leagues.

Just John

But because Tim Anderson followed those singles with a three-run homer that silenced a Yankee Stadium crowd that spent all night booing him because Josh Donaldson deserves their support or something, it was perfect.

Thank you for the goosebumps!

Last edited 1 year ago by Just John
vince

Sunday was the absolute perfect response to Donaldson’s antics.

texag10

I might be jumbling up the order of events but didn’t the Sox go on a mini-run after Donaldson went after Giolito last year? If so, you would think he would have learned his lesson but Donaldson doesn’t really seem like the time for introspection.

BenwithVen

TA with a big game and being all around incredible
Kopech dominating the best offense in baseball on national TV
Ditto Cueto sans national TV
Donaldson going 0-4
Hanging the L on Chapman

Yesterday was a good day

asinwreck

Thousands of Yankees fans chanting “Jackie” at Tim Anderson on national television is the ugliest event of the 2022 MLB season so far. If you want to drive people away from the sport, that’s more effective than a 1-0 game that lasts four hours.

Credit Tim with an amazing performance in response, but to hell with those people.

MrStealYoBase

Somewhere there is a Yankees fan who paid $200 for a ticket on the secondary market just to go to the game last night to heckle TA. Chanted “Jackie” at every opportunity while wearing a “Judge 99” jersey, the irony completely lost on them. Then after the game, they navigated the trash-laden streets of NYC to make their way back to their $2200/month 900 square foot apartment that they share with three other people, got into bed and felt like they really did something that day.

Fuck ‘em.

gibby32

I like New York and many people that live there. Of course there are assholes; out of that many people, it would be impossible for there not to be. Your criticism would be more accurate if it were more targeted.

soxfan

I see your point, but maybe this is an opportunity to reclaim the jeer as a point of pride. If Yankees fans (or national fans more broadly) want to mock Anderson for wanting to be a change agent by using a label that he accepts (albeit with a different connotation), it allows him to build on the shattered pieces of their crushed dreams by re-appropriating the language after a dominant game.

There’s a long history of slurs being turned into rallying cries, and I can think of few better than actually living up to the legacy of Jackie Robinson on a national televised Sunday night game that was the only game being aired at the time.

Last edited 1 year ago by soxfan
As Cirensica

This is not the right slur in my opinion. We don’t need it.

As Cirensica

I was gonna post something very similar. It was a bit disheartening how many people thought this ‘Jackie’ chants were fans being jocose. This needs to stop immediately. We don’t need this shit. I really hope other fanbase don’t pick up this thing when their teams face the White Sox. I actually think Manfred and the MLB should denounce this with a public statement.

Last edited 1 year ago by As Cirensica
gibby32

Everybody isn’t going to be a saint. A public statement would make it worse.

To Err is Herrmann

The best response to the jack-a-nape Donaldson and Yankee fans would be a White Sox playoff series victory in October. Hahnsdorf would do well to take on more salary by trading for a real second baseman(and whatever else the ChiSox might need). I don’t want to see Leury Garcia starting in that series.

MrStealYoBase

If the Mariners keep digging themselves a hole, Adam Frazier could be on the move (again). $7.5M prorated for a half season of control should fit even the tightest of budgets.

jhomeslice

He would be an improvement, but since his career year first half last year, his net OPS is sub .700. His WAR this year 0.3 in 1/4 of a season. He’s obviously better than what they have, but I think a highly overrated player who is not worth the hype (or giving up a lot), and is not like adding an allstar.

That being said I’ll take him, just would not be all that excited and think in a year or two the Sox will have options at least as good from Sosa, Popeye, or Sanchez.

gibby32

Leury was pretty good in the second half last year, and this year is following the same pattern. It might be smart to give it some time.

soxfan

The first half of May was a near total reversal of April. The last week or so has been a bit of a reversion to April but there’s reason to believe he’ll end the season as a net positive player. I get that Garcia is over-exposed, but I still think he’s a useful player and don’t understand the hate directed at him.

jhomeslice

The hate is not directed at him, but the fact that he is a mediocre utility player, and for some reason plays more than anybody else. And should not have been their choice for a starting 2b. When he isn’t bad, he is mediocre, not good.

Greg Nix

Tim Anderson is the best figure to come out of this organization since Frank Thomas. It’s really incredible that in a 30 year span of generally bumbling incompetency they somehow managed to cultivate a player as dynamic, unique, charismatic, and fucking awesome at baseball as TA.

soxfan

I ain’t saying you’re wrong, but who else would be on the short list? Buehrle; Thome had an incredibly high peak but wasn’t here long enough; Konerko had the durability/stoicism/sticktuitivism but he was the quietest of leaders and his lows were pretty low; Sale had the potential but…yeah that didn’t end well; Mags left at the peak of his popularity; Abreu and Alexei are in the discussion somewhere, but probably bottom of the top 10 rather than top 5.

So yeah, probably Anderson and Buehrle and a bunch of also-rans.

Augusto Barojas

I’d call Konerko much more than an also ran. Dude was totally respected in all baseball circles. Guy is easily one of best Sox figures in last 50 years, top 3 for sure.

soxfan

Within the fandom of baseball you’re right, every baseball fan understood the value of Konerko. Just not sure he transcended the game much. He didn’t have the nickname (Thomas) or the obvious on-film joy of the game (Buehrle) or the compelling story (Abreu) or the story that transcends baseball into culture (Anderson).

All that said, you’re probably right. I’d personally slot him behind Frank and Tim/Mark (in either order).

ForsterFTOG

Amazing that Ventura’s name is rarely mentioned.

soxfan

Two things about Ventura (maybe three):

1) I don’t think we’re just talking about on-field performance; we’re talking about that plus leadership, demeanor, community involvement, being the “face of the franchise” so to speak. Ventura was one of the best on the field of course, but the least of those I mentioned to transcend the game and become cultural influencers rather than just baseball players.

2) Some of his best years were with the Mets. Had he been a life-long Sox maybe he’s part of conversation.

3) (maybe) His playing days will be clouded by his managing days. Not great, Bob.

ForsterFTOG

Ventura was a better player based on their Sox stats alone. Konerko never struck me as anything more than a good teammate. He just happened to be on the World Series team.

gibby32

And here’s a mystery: why does he want to stay here, as does Abreu? It causes me to think that the organization is doing something right, even if what that is seems to be a mystery to many of the fans.

soxfan

Is it really a mystery? For all of Reinsdorf’s faults, there’s no question of his loyalty to the in-group. Sometimes the results are great (Baines getting into the HOF) and sometimes awkward (essentially forcing Ventura to fire himself) and sometimes suboptimal (we may be overpaying for Abreu but less than I think most feared when he signed his new contract), but the insider’s public comments about Reinsdorf universally laud him for his support. There have been a few ugly incidents in the last couple of decades, but I’ve rarely heard anything bad about Reinsdorf from anyone other than those on the outside looking in.

Augusto Barojas

Barkley said that the reason elite players have not gone to the Bulls since Jordan is that everybody knows Reinsdorf is a cheapskate. I don’t think anybody following the White Sox for the past several decades has many positive things to say about him from a fan’s perpsective. And if they wound up with La Russa because Jerry’s “loyalty” obscures his logical judgment and common sense completely, it isn’t that much of a positive quality either.

gibby32

Well said. My reference to it being a mystery was tongue in cheek, which was not clear. I agree with your comments.

andyfaust

so much to be happy about sunday. One thing i took note of is that Kopech finally notched a win, even though his performance so far would suggest he should be among the league leaders. Because Wins are a stat that are becoming increasingly meaningless each year, I was kind of hoping that Kopech could continue his form and earn an All Star appearance as an SP that has zero wins. If he winds up with 4-5 wins at the break instead, well that’s cool too.

roke1960

Well, since this tough stretch of games started on April 29, the Sox are 8-6 against the good teams (Angels, Red Sox and Yankees) and 6-3 against the mediocre/bad teams (Cubs, Royals, Cleveland). Yes, I included the Red Sox in the good teams. They have 24 games left against good teams (Dodgers, Giants, Blue Jays, Rays, Astros, Angels, Red Sox) until July 4th. Even if they can go 12-12 in those games, that would be great. But they need to really beat up on the bad teams, especially in their division. The Twins have gotten a 4-game lead by beating up on the Royals, Tigers and A’s. They have only played 8 games against teams with a winning record (not counting the Sox). They are 2-6 in those games, including being outscored by the Astros 21-3 in 3 games at home. That pitching staff of theirs will get shelled by good hitting teams. If the Sox are within 3-4 games of first on July 4th, they’ll be in great shape. They still have 16 games against the Twins and if the bats get hot, the pitching matchups certainly favor the Sox. Their is no comparison between a rotation of Giolito, Cease, Lynn, Kopech and Cueto vs. Sonny Gray, Archer, Ober, Bundy and Joe Ryan.

jhomeslice

We should all fear that TLR will want to include Keuchel and VV in a 7 man rotation.

texag10

VV is a lost cause and should be tossed on the scrap heap. His only viable roles are mop up duty in a blowout or bum slaying against the 7-8-9 hitters of the other team. Neither role seems worth keeping him on the roster though.

Keuchel is weird in that he’s given up 22 earned runs this year but over half of those have come in the 2nd inning (with over half of those coming from the Cleveland disaster). He’s also been weirdly phenomenal in the 1st inning of games so I don’t know how we can set it up to take advantage of this data but he might still be somewhat useful in a follower-type situation.

roke1960

I would have to think that VV goes when Lynn comes back- if not sooner. Actually with the number of off days coming up, there is no real need for him now. Right now they’re only carrying 12 position players, so they could afford to bring up another one.

joewho112

Does VV have options? The cupboard is bare in terms of pitching at AAA. As mediocre as VV is, you do occasionally need someone who can stand on the mound for 4 innings (injuries, doubleheaders, etc.).

Augusto Barojas

When Lynn gets back they will have 6 starters. Keuchel can be the extra spot starter. They have no need for Velasquez.

jhomeslice

I’m not that down on Keuchel, personally. He isn’t good, but has pitched decent in enough starts to be worth keeping around for a 6th man in the rotation in case someone goes down. He beat the Yankees a week ago, and part of his bad outing this weekend was one of the cheapest grand slams you’ll ever see. Hard to shut down the Yankees twice in a week.

Cueto has all but ended any debate over who their 5th should be when Lynn gets back. But I’d keep DK around and DFA VV, which was the predictable outcome the moment they signed him.

gibby32

Roster crunch may make it difficult to keep either of them.

soxfan

I see both of them sticking around longer than most seem to assume is possible. Maybe I’m in the minority on this, but when guys are pitching into the 5th inning and you’re winning about half their starts I don’t see a lot of point in getting rid of them. It’s not just about getting Lynn healthy, but then also avoiding future COVID IL trips, having contingency plans in place in case of a long-term injury to someone else. In a normal year, maybe let them go. I don’t see this as a normal year.

peanutsNcrackerjack

A starting rotation with quality and depth is developing.
With Health and Hitting, this team has a chance to be special.

roke1960

Also, Joe Kelly seems to be rounding into shape. If he and Bummer can be effective, this team has everything to win (except a 2nd baseman).

Deep Dish Pizza

So calling people names now is bad and should stop. I agree with that. We’re not 6 years old any longer and we should know better. So where’s the outrage when half the population of this Country are called racist and nazis? And I hated it when our ex pres called people names so don’t think I’m only talking about libs.

roke1960

Well said.

ForsterFTOG

“Libs”

Someone should do something about all the problems. — Edith Heare, “Heare Me Out,” Onion columnist