Time is running out on the Chicago White Sox in 2022. With Cleveland maintaining a .532 winning percentage, they are on track to finish with an 86-76 record. If the White Sox still believe in themselves, it would require a 24-10 finish to reach 87 wins and avoid any tiebreakers to win the AL Central.
That journey began with Kansas City visiting for the last time this season. Owning a 9-7 record against the White Sox, the Royals had Brady Singer on the mound. Last time he pitched at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 9th, Singer went 7.1 IP 5 H 1 ER 0 BB 6 K. That start launched a very strong month of August for Singer who carried a month ERA of 2.23.
On the flip side, Lucas Giolito took the ball and he’s just another White Sox player who carries so much promise but the performance has been awfully erratic in 2022. Even though Giolito carried a 4-1 record in August, his monthly ERA was 5.13. Luckily for Giolito, the White Sox have scored at least five runs in his last six starts. A type of offensive support that would make Dylan Cease envy.
Before the game began, Tony La Russa had to remove himself for health reasons.
With Miguel Cairo taking over he got a front row seat watching Nick Pratto and Salvador Perez taking Lucas Giolito deep for three home runs. Pratto's monster game led the Royals to a 9-7 victory as the White Sox have now lost 10 of their last 12 games.
Down 3-0, the White Sox had a good scoring opportunity in the third inning. Josh Harrison's Kansas City Special landed just fair down the right field line for a bloop double. Next at bat, Seby Zavala got hit by a pitch, turning the lineup over with no outs.
In typical White Sox fashion, they didn't manufacture a run. AJ Pollock struck out and Andrew Vaughn almost hit into a double play. Thanks to Vaughn's hustle, it was just a fielder's choice, but Jose Abreu grounded out to third base ending the threat.
Second scoring opportunity came the next inning when Elvis Andrus walked and advanced to third base off Leury Garcia's single. However, Josh Harrison couldn't come up with clutch hit with two outs.
In the fifth inning, the White Sox offense finally broke through. Three singles from Pollock, Abreu, and Jimenez scored the first run. Then Gavin Sheets added to his home run lead at Guaranteed Rate Field blasting a three-run shot. Suddenly a comfortable five-run lead for Kansas City was cut to just one.
Singer wouldn't last much longer as he allowed back-to-back singles to Andrus and Garcia. Royals manager Mike Matheny went to the bullpen and called for Jose Cuas to face Harrison. On the first pitch, Harrison grounded out ending the rally. Singer's final line was 4.2 IP 9 H 4 ER 1 BB 4 K.
Giolito didn't last much longer. After punching out Hunter Dozier, Cairo called for Tanner Banks to face Pratto. In 5.1 innings, Giolito allowed 6 H 5 ER 2 BB 7 K 3 HR. His season ERA is now 5.27.
Banks ran into trouble as the bases were loaded for Nicky Lopez. On a hard hit line drive, Pollock made a nice defensive play catch and throw back into the infield preventing a run from scoring. Cairo swapped Banks for Jimmy Lambert to face Michael A. Taylor.
On a shallow fly ball, Sheets tried to make a diving catch much like a Walrus flopping onto a sheet of ice. Of course, Sheets didn't make the catch, and the Royals increased their lead to 7-4.
Kansas City made it 8-4 in the seventh inning, but Jimenez hit a solo shot in the bottom half. His eighth homer of the season was a no-doubter traveling 434-feet.
In the ninth inning, down by four runs, Sheets hit his second home run of the game with a two-run shot. Ultimately, the White Sox lost but watching three home runs en route to seven runs scored is a version of "fun bad." But in a World Series or Bust season, it's another depressing night.
Game Notes:
- Eloy Jimenez went 3-for-5 bringing his season OPS up to .848
- All of Gavin Sheets’s home runs have been hit at home in 2022.
- After the game there was no update on Tony La Russa’s health. More information will be provided prior to Wednesday’s game.
- Kansas City Royals win the season series vs. White Sox. Add it to the overgrowing list of reasons why new front office management is needed.
