The Chicago White Sox have officially snapped out of their brief stretch of competent baseball, reverting back to their old, uninspiring ways over the last few games. The team is now riding a three-game losing streak after falling 7–3 in game two of their weekend series at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs.
White Sox starter Sean Burke had a rough outing, struggling with his command while missteps in the field stunted any hopes of a comeback and mirrored the general sloppiness of the series opener.
As they did Friday, the White Sox struck first. In the top of the first inning, outfielder Chase Meidroth connected for a solo home run—the first of his major league career. The shortstop had three of the South Siders six hits.
Unfortunately, as has become routine, the early lead didn’t last.
Cubs Capitalize on Walks, Errors, and General White Sox-ness
The Cubs answered quickly with a four-run outburst in the bottom of the second. Burke walked two in the inning, and both scored. Catcher Miguel Amaya drove in the first two runs with a bases-loaded single, and center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong continued his reign of terror on the Pale Hose with a two-run single of his own.
The White Sox chipped away at the deficit briefly. Miguel Vargas brought in a run with a sacrifice fly in the third after back-to-back singles and a double steal from Meidroth and Michael A. Taylor.
In the fifth, Tim Elko launched his second home run of the season to make it a one-run game.
But then the defense and pitching imploded. Burke returned for the bottom of the fifth and struck out Michael Busch to start the inning. But Dansby Swanson took him deep in the next at-bat to put the Cubs up 5–3.
With two outs, Nico Hoerner singled and advanced on a throwing error by Lenyn Sosa. Joshua Palacios then misplayed a fly ball off the bat of Vidal Bruján, which bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double, allowing another run to score.
Reliever Mike Vasil didn’t fare much better. He issued two walks in the sixth before Hoerner lined an RBI single to extend the Cubs’ lead to 7–3.
In all, White Sox pitchers issued 11 walks on the afternoon — five by Burke, five by Vasil — because of course they did
News and Notes
- Prior to the game, the White Sox placed left-handed reliever Tyler Gilbert on the injured list with a knee injury. The club recalled Jared Shuster, who had just been optioned yesterday—because roster moves, like baseballs, are better when thrown wildly.
- The White Sox have now lost seven straight games against the Cubs, which is a number that is both impressive and sad in its own unique way.
What’s On Tap Next?
Jonathan Cannon will take the mound Sunday for the Sox, looking to play stopper and salvage the series finale. He’s been on a bit of a roll lately, so there’s at least a glimmer of hope. The Cubs will counter with right-hander Colin Rea. First pitch is at 1:20 PM CT on CHSN.
