The Chicago White Sox’s experimental “opener” strategy backfired spectacularly on Wednesday night, as the Detroit Tigers pounced all over Jared Shuster in the first inning en route to a 5-4 victory.
The Tigers wasted no time getting on the board. Gleyber Torres kicked things off with a two-bagger to left. Andy Ibáñez followed with a bloop double, and Riley Greene singled them both home, giving Detroit an early 2-0 lead. After walking Spencer Torkelson and getting a strikeout, Dillon Dingler singled to plate Greene, extending the Tigers’ advantage to 4-0 before the Good Guys even had a chance to bat.
Mike Vasil replaced Shuster in the second and quickly put the brakes on the Tigers’ momentum. He retired the Motor City Kitties in order through the second and third innings, thanks in part to a stellar defensive play by Meidroth in the second.
Slowly and methodically, the White Sox offense began to chip away in the third. Michael A. Taylor walked with one out, and after Korey Lee popped out, Mike Tauchman, no doubt hoping to play well enough to find himself traded to a contender at the deadline, hammered a double to right, scoring Taylor.
Meidroth then singled, bringing Tauchman home and cutting the deficit to 4-2. Unfortunately, Miguel Vargas flew out to end the rally.
They kept things rolling in the fourth when Andrew Benintendi led off with a double. Joshua Palacios hit a sinking line drive that Riley Greene made a fantastic sliding catch on. Tim Elko then scorched a 106.7 mph single to left, forcing Benny to hold at third. Josh Rojas drove Benintendi home with a sacrifice fly, making it a one-run game. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch brought in old friend John Brebbia, who retired Taylor to stop the threat.
Vasil, who was fantastic over his 3 2⁄3 frames, returned for the fifth, and with one out, Greene doubled. After a Torkelson ground out, Vasil hit Wenceel Pérez with a pitch, prompting White Sox manager Will Venable to call on Steven Wilson. Wilson walked Dillon Dingler but struck out Colt Keith to escape the jam.
The White Sox continued their comeback in the bottom of the fifth. Korey Lee doubled, and Tauchman walked. Meidroth hit an infield single, with McKinstry making a terrific diving grab to prevent a run. With the sacks packed with Sox, Miguel Vargas flew out, and Brebbia exited for Tyler Holton. Benintendi delivered the equalizer with a sacrifice fly to right, completely erasing the early four-run deficit.
Brandon Eisert pitched a clean seventh for Chicago. In the bottom of the inning, Detroit closer Will Vest replaced Holton. Lee started with a routine grounder, but Zach McKinstry airmailed the throw to first, a reminiscent miscue for White Sox fans. To add insult to injury, Tauchman struck out, and Meidroth grounded into a double play, squandering a key opportunity.
The tie was ultimately fleeting as the Tigers reclaimed the lead in the eighth. Pérez doubled to start the inning after New York overturned a challenged out call. Venable looked to Jordan Leasure in the high-leverage situation, and well, you know how this goes — Keith blooped in a ball that eluded Benintendi’s grasp, plating Pérez to push Detroit ahead 5-4.
The White Sox couldn’t get anything going against Vest in the eighth, and with work to do to tie or walk it off in the ninth, the Sox faced former South Sider Tommy Kahnle. They went down without a fight, dropping the contest and sinking their overall record to a disheartening 19-43. So, yes, while there were things in the game tonight that were encouraging, it’s also incredibly frustrating and honestly exhausting to keep losing these close contests.
Poll
Who was the White Sox MVP?
Mike Tauchman: 1-for-3, R, RBI, BB, 2 K
Chase Meidroth: 3-for-4, RBI
Andrew Benintendi: 1-for-3, R, RBI
Josh Rojas: 0-for-3, RBI
Mike Vasil: 3 2⁄3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
0%
Mike Tauchman: 1-for-3, R, RBI, BB, 2 K
(0 votes)
60%
Chase Meidroth: 3-for-4, RBI
(6 votes)
0%
Andrew Benintendi: 1-for-3, R, RBI
(0 votes)
0%
Josh Rojas: 0-for-3, RBI
(0 votes)
40%
Mike Vasil: 3 2⁄3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
(4 votes)
10 votes total
Poll
Who was the White Sox Cold Cat?
90%
Jared Shuster: IP, 5 H, 4 R, BB, K
(10 votes)
9%
Miguel Vargas: 0-for-4, 2 K
(1 vote)
0%
Joshua Palacios: 0-for-2
(0 votes)
0%
Brandon Eisert: IP, H, R, K, L
(0 votes)
11 votes total