This series is pretty grim. The pitching staff performed reasonably well, despite one serious collapse, but the offense largely failed to deliver against a pretty poor pitching staff, and now the Jayhawks find themselves 1-5 on the season, below .500.
If the results weren’t enough, Addison Bugg had to leave the game in the sixth inning after he appeared to hurt himself while stretching on his first attempt at a throw. The problem was described on the broadcast as “bilateral ankle discomfort.” We’ll have to wait and see what exactly this means and whether this will cause him to miss time. Hopefully not, as the number of injuries early in the season is increasing at an alarming rate.
Davis Martin. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s No. 1 single was the only one Jay Chou played twice. In the third inning, Andres Gimenez drew the first walk. In his first MLB at-bat, Brandon Valenzuela hit a home run to right. With two outs, Flood loaded the bases. Addison Barger hit a single on second base that looked like it might have been a hit, but shortstop Tanner Murray made a great play, caught the ball and threw him out. Ernie Clement’s single was all they could manage in the fourth quarter.
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The White Sox hit Eric Lauer in the first game, though it wasn’t entirely his fault. His velocity is down and he’s spreading the ball around in a way that’s not like him. The illness that had put him off yesterday seemed to be nagging at him. Chase Meidroth led off with a double on a soft grounder to left field. Raul rallied and scored the next two points, but then Daulton Varsho misplayed Miguel Vargas’ soft line, turning what might have been a scoreless short into a solo three-point play. Lauer walked Edgar Cuero, but Lenin Sosa’s long fly ball was caught on the track for the third out. It took 28 pitches to complete the inning, with Pete Walker warming up before the third out. He gritted his teeth and finished the second program, working around singles and walks, then walked Murakami to start the third. That was the end of his afternoon. Newly drafted Austin Voss took over, allowing the inherited runner to score on Sosa’s double, but limiting the damage there.
In the bottom of the fourth, Luisangel Acuna singled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Austin Hays to extend Chicago’s advantage to three.
George Springer had a single in the top of the fifth inning, but it was erased by a double. Voss got two outs in the bottom half and issued a walk before being lifted by Joe Mantiply, another pitcher calling the day’s game, who struck out his man to end the inning.
Martin put the Jays in order in the sixth inning. Mantipuli fired back in the home half, adding two strikeouts.
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In the seventh inning, Blue Jays reliever Bryan Hudson had slightly better luck. Washoe and Clement lined up singles to tie the game. However, he was replaced by Jordan Leasure with the next two outs. Lethal struck out Springer to end the inning. Spencer Myers pitched a smooth 1-2-3 inning, striking out three. Lissoul returned with a clean finish in eighth. Myers gave up a couple singles in the second inning but exited the game without allowing a run.
The Blue Jays faced Chris Murphy in their final three games. Kazuma Okamoto could only walk, but that was all they could do.
Today’s Jaybird: No one is qualified.
Not so much: Springer (-0.10), Lux (-0.13) and Bugg (-0.12) qualify, but really the entire offense can share the credit.
Fortunately, their run against the White Sox was over. Things will undoubtedly get easier when they go home and face…*checks notes*…the Los Angeles Dodgers. Justin Wrobleski (0-0, 6.75) will start Game 1 for the visitors, while Max Scherzer (1-0, 1.50) starts for the home team. Game 1 is scheduled for tomorrow night at 7:07 PM ET.
