The 2025 White Sox seem to have this don't get swept all the time thing down, at least more than last year's team did. But in order to seal their second series victory of the young season, the Sox needed their second well-timed downpour of the year to end a game after seven innings while they held a slim lead.
The rain started a few innings before Roger Bossard & Co. pulled the tarp onto the field in the middle of the seventh, and it's unlikely the Astros will leave a five-star review for the field conditions on their way out of town after yielding a 4-0 lead amid the muddy slop.
Astros right fielder Zach Dezenzo has nobody to blame but himself for starting the comeback by letting a generic Andrew Benintendi pop to right clang off his glove for a two-base error. But Ryan Gusto might have some notes about the slickness of the ball after a four-pitch bases loaded walk to Josh Rojas--his second free pass issued of the inning--set up Lenyn Sosa's two-out, two-run single to trim the lead to 4-3.
"To see the guys take advantage of a mistake on their part and just make it hurt, and come back and take the lead and now we've got a win; that's awesome to see," said starter Bryse Wilson. "This, I think, is just a sign of things to come."
The grip issues shifted to catcher Victor Caratini in the sixth, as he couldn't find the ears on a throw to stop Chase Meidroth from stealing second after a leadoff walk. Houston reliever Steven Okert didn't issue any more walks after Meidroth, but he certainly didn't look any more comfortable or in control. He can't complain about the command on Luis Robert Jr. poking an outside fastball to center for a two-out, game-tying single. But his in vein attempts to hold Robert at first, before splitting the plate three-straight times with sliders to Edgar Quero resulted in the rookie catcher's second laser single in as many innings, all reflected a man engaged in work demanding a level of precision that the conditions prohibited.
"I've been in these moments a couple times in my career, in the minor leagues," Quero said of his game-winning knock. "I like to be in those moments. Sometimes I'm going to be good, sometimes I'm going to maybe not do the job, but I'm not scared of being in those moments."
Quero clapped his hands in triumph rounding first, but the true moment of victory came in guiding Mike Vasil through seven outs of hitless baseball. A similar fate loomed for Vasil when a sweeper sailed out of his hand and into Yanier Díaz's back to put the tying run on first. But Caratini chopped a high changeup to Miguel Vargas at first, where he kickstarted an inning-ending 3-6-3 double play with the ease of a plus defensive third baseman manning an easier position. Vasil roared in appreciation a few times, and maybe one was for himself, since those outs wound up sealing his first career win in the majors.
"More importantly the series win, I think that’s huge," said Vasil. "I tend to get a little excited out there, but I think for me, obviously the weather is starting to get tough, gripping the ball. To be able to turn a double play in that situation with that lineup is huge."
Wilson seemingly performed as well as could've been reasonably hoped and it still produced an outing where a no decision was the best-case scenario. As he correctly predicted a week ago, he was game for starter-length stamina (89 pitches) and poured in strikes at an almost 70 percent clip, yet still managed to walk a pair.
Moreover, both those walks were clustered in a clunky two-run second inning, even though Mauricio Dubón's two-out RBI single was the only hit with runners in scoring position Wilson allowed in his 4 2/3 innings. Wilson yielded nine hits, but only went for extra-bases, and it just so happened to be a two-run homer Dezenzo launched on a changeup that otherwise dotted the low and inside corner. He strode off the mound staked to a 4-0 deficit, but he boarded the flight to Kansas City insulated from blame, which is how we all strive to leave the workplace.
Bullet points:
*The Sox have a 2-9 series record this season.
*Brooks Baldwin pinch hit for Andrew Benintendi in the sixth. The Sox say Benintendi is day-to-day with left calf tightness. Will Venable indicated Benintendi tweaked his calf running out of the box on his fifth inning popup
"He's all right, just a little calf soreness. Just wanted to be proactive there especially with the conditions, and just turn the page on the day," said Venable.
*Quero has five multi-hit games on the season. As devoted recap readers will note, Vaughn recorded his third on Saturday.
*Sox hitters walked (6) more than they struck out (5) for the first time all season.
