The Chicago White Sox came up short again in a back-and-forth contest that saw most of the fireworks in the early innings. While the Good Guys’ offense showed signs of life throughout the game, they were ultimately unable to overcome the Mariners’ explosive start.

The South Siders went down quietly in the top of the first, retiring on just nine pitches. Then Mariners slugger Josh Naylor wasted no time, launching a towering two-run, 450-foot shot to put Seattle on the board in the bottom of the frame. I don’t understand why we continue to pitch to this guy. Jonathan Cannon had to grind through the inning, needing 24 pitches to escape.

Chicago’s offense answered right back in the second. Luis Robert Jr. led off with a single, swiped his 30th bag of the season, and hustled to third on a wild throw. This set the stage for Curtis Mead, a prospect acquired in the Adrian Houser trade and making his debut for the Sox, who punched an RBI single to make it 2-1.

The rally was cut short, however, as the Mariners’ J.P. Crawford made a nice play on a Michael A. Taylor grounder to end the inning.

The M’s broke things open in the bottom of the second. After a walk and a single, La Pantera made a spectacular run-saving dive on a flyout, but unfortunately, the inning kept rolling. Two walks and a single by Cal Raleigh plated a pair for Seattle, and then Julio Rodríguez crushed a three-run bomb to push the lead to 7-1. Tyler Alexander came in to stop the bleeding, getting the final out via strikeout.

The Sox tried to claw back in the third. Brooks Baldwin singled, advanced on a wild pitch, and came around to score on an Andrew Benintendi base knock after Lenyn Sosa worked a walk. Robert drew a free pass to load the bases, but Colson Montgomery went down swinging, and Mead flew out, leaving the rally stranded.

The middle innings were quieter, with both teams’ offenses being retired in order for the most part, including a stretch where Alexander mowed down 10 straight Mariners batters.

The Good Guys mounted another comeback attempt in the seventh. Taylor led off with a two-bagger, and after a strikeout by Baldwin, Mike Tauchman unloaded a 405-foot two-run homer to center.

Lenyn Sosa followed immediately with a solo shot of his own, slicing the deficit to 7-5. The rally ended there, with Benintendi grounding out and Robert going down on strikes.

The Mariners tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh off Steven Wilson, who replaced Alexander. With one out, Rodríguez worked a walk. Naylor followed with a single moving J-Rod to third, and Eugenio Suárez cashed in with a sac fly, extending their lead to 8-5.

In the top of the ninth, the South Siders staged one last, valiant charge as Taylor led off with a solo jack, trimming the deficit to 8-6.

Back-to-back walks to Baldwin and Tauchman put the tying run aboard, but the resurgence stalled. Sosa struck out, Benintendi flew out, and Robert Jr. grounded out to end the game.

I’ll give credit where credit is due. The guys battled, but 14 Ks is going to make a comeback pretty darn tricky.

The Sox will try to salvage the last game of the series tomorrow in a late afternoon contest at 3:10 p.m. CST.