Astros 11, White Sox 4: Eighth inning meltdown

For six innings, it was a competitive game between the Houston Astros and the Chicago White Sox. Down 3-0, the Sox were able to string three hits in a row off Lance McCullers Jr. to put runners on the corners and Jose Abreu the go-ahead run at home plate. Unfortunately, Abreu’s struggles for the past month continued as he hit into the inning-ending double play. In what was a lopsided series on paper, and after the Sox were able to take the lead into the ninth against Justin Verlander, the game was showing promise.

Then the eighth inning happened.

Hector Santiago allowed five hits, seven runs with six of them earned in the eighth making this somewhat close game into a blowout. All of the destruction came within 11 pitches, which in a way is depressingly impressive. With one out and a runner on first, the following events transpired:

  • 1-0 count, George Springer singled to center
  • 0-1 count, Alex Bregman singled to center
  • Intentional Walk to Jose Altuve
  • On the first pitch after a mound visit, Yuli Gurriel hits a sacrifice fly, but it was an error on Avisail Garcia who misplayed the fly ball. So badly, he overran the route and watched the ball bounce in fair territory and then into the seats. Instead of one-run scoring, two runs were awarded.
  • 2-1 count, Josh Reddick singled to left field.
  • After the second mound visit, Evan Gattis hit his 18th home run of 2018 on a 1-1 pitch.

That’s how a three-run deficit turns into ten.

Ending the game on a positive note, Avisail Garcia did smash a two-run homer in the top of the ninth for his eighth home run of 2018. Just like in Cincinnati earlier this week, Daniel Palka followed up Avi with a dinger of his own, the 11th of 2018.

For the young players, Yoan Moncada was 1-for-4 which raises his batting average to .230. Reynaldo Lopez had a rough outing only lasting 4.2 innings allowing six hits and five walks to just two strikeouts. Somehow, the Astros only were able to score three runs against Lopez which keeps his ERA at 3.77.

McCullers Jr. gave Sox hitters fits all night. He finished seven innings of work allowing just one run on three hits while striking out 12 batters and walking none. McCullers Jr. improves to 10-3 on the season and has made a case to be on the All-Star roster. Then again, pretty much every Astros starting pitcher has in 2018, and the White Sox are not adding much resistance.

Record: 30-58 | Box Score

Take a second to support Sox Machine on Patreon