Athletics 7, White Sox 6 (11 Innings): Blown five run lead

Ever since he signed the largest guarantee contract in Athletics history, Luis Severino has had a hard time pitching in their home ballpark in Sacramento. Prior to today’s game against the White Sox, Severino had a 6.01 ERA at home in 16 starts. He allowed 12 home runs in the process. For a White Sox offense looking to carry the good vibes from the previous night—after scoring nine runs—they were hoping to continue Severino’s misery pitching at Sutter Health Park.

In a way, the White Sox offense did achieve that goal against Severino. However, they missed a golden opportunity with the bases loaded and no outs in the 11th inning to secure a win. Instead, a blown five run lead turns into a 7-6 loss. 

Severino’s afternoon started poorly in the second inning. Colson Montgomery smashed the first pitch he saw for his fourth homer of the year, sending it 397 feet beyond the lawn. Next, Everson Pereira doubled, adding more pressure.

Chase Meidroth laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Pereira to third. With two outs, Severino faced Tristan Peters and Reese McGuire at the bottom of the order. He walked Peters on four pitches, and McGuire singled to left, scoring Pereira.

Leading 2-0, Andrew Benintendi extended the rally. Severino missed with two pitches, then tried a high two-seamer. Benintendi hit a three-run homer—his first of the year—putting the White Sox up 5-0.

After a rough second, Severino kept the Sox off the board. The only threat came in the sixth with Pereira’s second double. Meidroth then grounded to shortstop Jack Wilson, and Pereira took third safely after a review, putting runners on the corners.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay pulled Severino for lefty Hogan Harris. White Sox manager Will Venable countered that move by pinch-hitting Derek Hill for Peters. On Harris’s first pitch, Hill laid down a good bunt towards first base. But Nick Kurtz made a better play by scooping that bunt to home plate forcing Pereira into a rundown. Despite the helpless situation, Pereira survived long enough to allow Meidroth and Hill to reach scoring position before getting tagged out.

When McGuire got hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Benintendi was ahead 3-0 in the count, it appeared the White Sox were in a great situation to extend their lead. But Harris fought back to make the count full, and won the battle against Benintendi when forcing a groundout at second base. Successfully ending the threat with no runs allowed.

Give the Athletics offense credit as they chipped away at the lead. Jack Wilson homered in the second inning to make it 5-1. In the third, Jeff McNeil’s sacrifice fly made it 5-2. Tyler Soderstrom’s two-out RBI single in the fifth cut it to 5-3. In the sixth, Max Muncy tripled on Pereira’s misplay. Butler grounded weakly, Sox reliever Sean Newcomb mishandled it, and Muncy scored.

Now a one run game, the screws were getting tighter on the White Sox. But Munetaka Murakami added insurance with his seventh homer, a solo shot off a 73 MPH Harris curve, making it 6-4.

Those good feelings didn't last long. In the bottom half of the seventh, Jordan Leasure was given first crack to hold the lead, but failed. Kurtz launched a two-run homer off Leasure with an exit velocity of 115 MPH. The early five-run Sox lead vanished as the game was tied, 6-6.

Venable brought in Bryan Hudson for the eighth. Butler lined a ball down the right field line and tried for a leadoff triple, but the relay from Pereira, Meidroth, and Vargas got him. As Butler slid past the bag, Vargas kept the tag on for a key first out.

Athletics would find a way to load the bases against Hudson, with Soderstrom batting. Hudson was able escape that jam by striking out Soderstrom on a 93 MPH fastball. A mighty scream was unleashed, as Hudson did his job to keep the game tied.

In the ninth, Murakami showcased his understanding of the strike zone by successfully challenging two pitches to his favor. After drawing a four-pitch walk, Venable pinch ran Murakami for Luisangel Acuna, hoping for a chance to get a stolen base. Despite removing his best power bat from the lineup.

After Miguel Vargas popped out in the infield, Acuna would swipe second base during Montgomery’s at-bat. By doing so, the Athletics intentionally walked Montgomery to face Pereira.  

Athletics reliever Jack Perkins entered the game and struggled to find the strike zone. He fell behind 3-0 to Pereira and eventually walked him to load the bases for Sam Antonacci. After letting a hanging slider go by for a strike, Antonacci hit a weak grounder towards first base. Despite diving headfirst into the bag, Kurtz tagged Antonacci out, ending the threat.

In the bottom half, White Sox closer Seranthony Dominguez was able to maneuver around two walks, keeping the Athletics from walking off and forcing the game into extras. When the Sox couldn’t score in the top of the 10th, Venable gave Jordan Hicks the responsibility of holding serve.

Zack Gelof laid down a sacrifice bunt towards third base. Hicks fielded it and looked for a brief moment to take a chance at third base. But when Hicks couldn’t find a good grip on the ball, he reversed course and tried to get the play at first base. The throw was late and wide. Athletics had runners on the corners with no outs.

With a full count, Shea Langeliers hit a screaming grounder at Tanner Murray, who was covering shortstop. A diving stop by Murray kept the runner on third base, and his throw was in time for one out at first base. White Sox intentionally walked Kurtz to load the bases, hoping for one more game-saving defensive play.

It got a bit dicey against Soderstrom as Hicks fell behind 3-1 in the count, but a jammed fly out to right field kept the bases loaded with two outs. Next was Jacob Wilson, but all he could manage was a routine grounder at Murray for the 6-4 forceout. Amazingly, the White Sox bullpen got themselves out of another jam to keep the game alive.

In the 11th inning, Acuna led off where it was Murakami’s spot in the lineup. After two failed bunt attempts, Acuna was able to recover nicely by poking a single to center field. With Benintendi running, all he could manage was advancing to third.

With Vargas batting, and runners on the corners, he fell behind 0-2 in the count. But he was able to battle back drawing a key walk and loading the bases with no outs. With Montgomery stepping up to the plate, the White Sox were now hunting for a big inning.

But Perkins' heater was too much for Montgomery and Pereira, who both struck out. Then Antonacci got sawed off, popping out to third base. A golden opportunity to regain control of the game, and White Sox hitters couldn’t find a way to drive a ball to the outfield.

Lucas Sims had 11th inning duties, and after a sacrifice bunt by Denzel Clarke moved Wilson up to third base, Muncy was able to hit the ball into the outfield. His fly ball was deep enough in left field that Antonacci couldn’t get into the best throwing position. His throw was off target, and Wilson slid home safely for the the game-winning run.

Game Notes

• Munetaka Murakami was 1-for-2 with a home run, three walks, and one strikeout. His season OPS is now .908
• Sam Antonacci went 0-for-5. He’s batting .067 to start his MLB career.
• Erick Fedde went 4.2 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K on 75 pitches. 
• White Sox pitchers combined for 10 walks while striking out six batters. 

Record: 7-14 | Box Score | StatCast