ARLINGTON, Texas — Tyler Alexander expected to pitch at some point during Saturday’s game against the Texas Rangers.
“I didn’t expect to hit,” the Chicago White Sox left-hander said.
Sox designated hitter Kyle Teel moved behind the plate in the eighth inning after Brooks Baldwin ran for catcher Edgar Quero. With that, the Sox lost the DH — meaning a pitcher (or pinch hitter) would have to bat if the spot in the lineup came up again.
In a game with many twists and turns, the Sox made well-timed substitutions to get in a position to send the game to extra innings. They had run out of position players to call on, so it was Alexander in the batter’s box with two on and two outs in the 10th.
“It’s funny, I got in (after striking out Adolis García to end the ninth) and they said, ‘Hey, you’re up fourth.’ Of course, somebody got on (Austin Slater walked), so I got to hit.”
He grounded out to first. Alexander went back to the mound role and got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the 10th. But the Rangers came through with the clutch hit in the 11th, a two-out, run-scoring single by García, to defeat the Sox 5-4.
“We did everything we could,” manager Will Venable said. “I just cannot say how proud I am of our guys. That effort right there was unbelievable. Just credit to all our guys. Everyone earned their money today, and just a great effort. I talked to the group really quickly (after the game), it was probably 10 seconds and told them how proud I was.
“The feeling that we feel after this game is one that we can feel. You don’t need to turn the page on this one. We can sit in this one and that’s a good thing because we expect to win. This club expects to win. They showed that today to be able to face one of the best pitchers on the planet (Rangers starter Jacob deGrom) and go toe-to-toe with these guys, I can’t say enough. Just so proud of them.”
The Sox trailed 4-3 with two outs in the ninth. Pinch hitter Michael A. Taylor delivered a game-tying RBI double against Robert Garcia.
“(He was) just ready to go,” Venable said. “The last time we faced that guy was (Friday), end of the game (Garcia struck out Taylor for the final out).
“Just another example of a guy who believes and goes out there and continues to compete and got the result.”
Rangers right fielder Adolis García, center right, covers his face as teammates douse him after his RBI singled scored the winning run in the 11th inning of a 5-4 victory over the White Sox on Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (LM Otero/AP)
Alexander, who entered and recorded the final out of the eighth, had a 1-2-3 ninth to send the game to extra innings.
With all the maneuvering, the pitcher’s spot was the due up fourth in the 10th for the Sox.
Baldwin was on second base as the automatic runner. Slater walked, giving the Sox runners on first and second with no outs.
Two strikeouts followed, bringing Alexander to the plate against Jacob Latz. He became the first Sox primary pitcher to record a plate appearance since Dylan Cease on Aug. 8, 2021, against the Chicago Cubs.
Alexander had two at-bats in a Sept. 3, 2021 game for the Detroit Tigers against the Cincinnati Reds.
“At that point, trying to do the best we can to get to the next guy,” Venable said. “We were going to take a strike there and then he got the pitch-clock violation (for strike one). We got a little deeper into the at-bat than we wanted to quickly up there, up front, but good job grinding there.”
After the automatic strike, Alexander took a called strike and then fouled off a pitch. He then hit the grounder to first baseman Jake Burger.
“The approach was I was told to take a strike and then hope he just throws fastballs,” Alexander said. “And then try to catch up. I didn’t. But put it in play, which was a win.”
Alexander returned to the mound. With two outs and two on, the Sox intentionally walked Wyatt Langford. Alexander then struck out Corey Seager. It was Alexander’s second strikeout of the inning and third of the game.
“With this lineup especially, they’re so aggressive,” Alexander said. “You almost have to throw balls and hope they chase. Which ended up working in a few tough counts. They battled, I battled.”
Since he was the last out of the previous inning there was a moment Alexander thought he would have to go to second base as the automatic runner for the 11th. But the Sox knew they could use the spot prior if a pitcher was in that situation.
“Which is probably a good thing,” Alexander said. “I’m not saying I’m slow, just the experience on the basepaths isn’t there.”
The Sox didn’t score in the 11th. They were one out from extending the game another inning, but García launched the game-ending single to deep center.
“I think what Tyler did in extra innings, it’s incredible,” said Sox starter Mike Vasil, who allowed two hits in four scoreless innings. “He should get a lot of props for what he did, and just the rest of the team as well. I think everyone here really wants to win and compete.
“We really did leave it all out there against a very good team, going up against one of the best pitchers on planet Earth. To be able to do that on the road, compete and be able to constantly stay in games and give ourselves a chance to win, eventually things will go our way when it comes to stuff like that.”
Originally Published: June 14, 2025 at 7:29 PM CDT