Orioles 6, White Sox 4: Rinse and repeat

The South Siders again attempted a late-inning comeback — and failed once more

After a 45-minute weather delay which produced no actual rain, Friday’s game finally started. Looking for revenge against one of the best teams in the league, the White Sox actually showed a little fight against the Orioles. Alas, it still ended up being a team with a historically-bad record against a team sitting right behind the first-place Yankees in a tough division.

The first and second innings were both quick and uneventful for both teams. After the last handful of games, I for one welcomed the delay in reaching for my bottle of Tums.

Gunnar Henderson kept the third inning alive for the O’s with a double and the opportunity to advance on a wild pitch. Jordan Westburg doubled to center right after, allowing Gunnar Henderson to score.

The bottom of the fourth got interesting for the White Sox, as Corbin Burnes started to struggle. However, he was able to bounce back from a bases-loaded jam. Andrew Benintendi entered, and as the saying goes, “death, taxes, and Benintendi grounding out to end the inning.”

Henderson continued his mission to destroy the White Sox with a two-run homer in the fifth. Chicago starter Chris Flexen, clearly frustrated, walked Westburg and gave up a single to Ryan O’Hearn.

Justin Anderson, fresh from Charlotte, entered the game and added another run to Flexen’s tab before ending the inning. At the midway point, Baltimore had complete control of the game, with a 4-0 lead.

The bottom of the fifth would be difficult for Burnes after back-to-back singles from Nicky Lopez and Tommy Pham, and a double from Andrew Vaughn to send Lopez home. Paul DeJong singled, cutting the lead by one as Burnes gave up his fourth hit in the frame.

Austin Hays reached in the sixth on an error at third by Danny Mendick. Karma was restored as Cedric Mullins and Jorge Mateo struck out swinging and Hays was caught stealing.

A rare, successful bunt put Korey Lee on base, but not after more interference discourse after his bat hit the mask of James McCann. Benintendi reached on fielder’s choice to second, advanced on a stolen base and got to third on McCann’s errant throw. Alas, Benny was stranded. All that rare work was wasted.

Jordan Leasure had a successful 1-2-3 inning to keep the O’s from gaining a larger lead. And Vaughn was kind enough to help the young pitcher by tying the game with a solo homer while Yennier Canó stood, mouth agape and stunned.

Heavy rain started coming down, enough to require a cleat cleaner swap during John Brebbia’s extended inning. Brebbia struggled with his command throughout the eighth and turned a two-out, two-on ballgame over to Michael Kopech as Mullins approached the batter’s box. With the pitcher swap, the O’s decided to send Adley Rutschman to bat instead. In what would stand as the key moment of the game, Rutschman flared a single out to left, with Benintendi, who we are told once won a Gold Glove, flailing on a dive; his decision to leave his feet rather than pull up on the ball allowed Anthony Santander to score from second and Rutschman to advance to second. The lead would have been lost, but 5-4 is less daunting than 6-4 late.

Tanner Banks had a stress-free ninth, and Craig Kimbrel took the mound for the O’s in a save situation. With a stomach full of knots as someone who had to bear witness to last night’s game, I was braced for the cruel fate. Pinch-hitter Zach DeLoach struck out swinging, Nicky Lopez grounded to second, and what would’ve/could’ve/should’ve been a home run from Tommy Pham was snatched at the fence by Colton Cowser. Cruel fate, indeed.

The series is not lost just yet, with two games still to play. Perhaps it end as a split? Nah. Who am I kidding?

Get your rest friends, we’ve got a tight turnaround for a 1:10 p.m. CT start time tomorrow. I’ll be back for that game coverage, because misery loves company.

Futility Watch

White Sox 2024 Record 15-37, worst 52-game start in White Sox history (one game ahead the 2018 White Sox) and tied for the 31st-worst start in MLB history
White Sox 2024 Run Differential -111, tied for the 24th-worst 52-game start in MLB history
White Sox 2024 Season Record Pace 47-115 (.288)
Race to the Worst “Modern” 162-Game Record (2003 Tigers, 43-119) 4 games behind
Race to the Worst “Modern” Record in a 162-Game Season (1962 Mets, 40-120) 6 games behind
Race to the Most White Sox Losses (1970, 106) 9 games ahead
Race to the Worst White Sox Record (1932, 52-109-1*) 5 1⁄2 games ahead
Race to the Worst American League Record (1916 A’s, 38-124*) 9 games behind
*record adjusted to a 162-game season