Bullpen keeps game out of reach for offense, Sox drop finale
/The White Sox strung together their fair share of hits against Max Scherzer and the Detroit bullpen, but the White Sox's own bullpen was unable to keep them within striking distance in a 7-4 loss in Thursday's series finale.
Reigning American League Cy Young winner Scherzer was good but not exactly unhittable. He struck out 10 during his six innings of work but also allowed seven hits and two earned runs. Unfortunately for the White Sox, that was enough as the offense was unable to string enough of those hits together to do real damage.
Jose Quintana kept the White Sox in the game, however, allowing single runs in the second, third and sixth innings, and when both teams handed the game to their bullpens the White Sox found themselves trailing just 3-2.
The combination of Maikel Cleto and and Daniel Webb — the latter of whom was making just his second appearance in the last eight days — allowed three runs in the next two innings and the White Sox offense was unable to keep pace despite an equally shaky Detroit bullpen.
Put simply, the White Sox's bullpen out-sucked the Detroit bullpen just a little too much.
Other notes from Thursday's 7-4 defeat:
- Gordon Beckham went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his season debut. Beckham wasn't initially slated to play, but Conor Gillaspie isn't quite ready to return so the White Sox slotted him in at second back with Marcus Semien playing third. Beckham looks overly aggressive, to say the least, seeing 16 pitches in his four plate appearances.
- Tyler Flowers continues to BABIP the hell out of the game, going 3-for-4 with none of his three singles hit particularly hard. He now has 24 hits on the season, only two of which have gone for extra bases.
- Similarly, Dayan Viciedo's hot streak continues. He also went 3-for-4 and was a home run shy of the cycle, although his sixth inning triple was thanks to a horrible read in right field by Torii Hunter.
- Jose Quintana didn't walk a batter for the first time this season and now has 22 strikeouts against 9 walks on the season.
- Cleto and Webb combined to pitch two innings, allowing six hits, two walks and four earned runs.
Team Record: 11-12
Next game is Friday at home against the Tampa Bay Rays at 7:10 p.m. on WCIU.
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