Michael Kopech became the first pitcher to throw an immaculate inning in 101 years Wednesday, striking out the side on nine pitches in the ninth inning of the White Sox' 3-1 victory against the Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Two games after allowing four runs including a three-run walk-off homer to the Marlins' Jake Burger Sunday, a blast that left him in a dazed, soul-searching state at his locker in Miami, and two days after bouncing back with a scoreless 10th in a Sox loss to the Twins, Kopech (5.18 ERA) recorded his ninth save by blowing away Brooks Lee, Matt Wallner and Max Kepler.
Lee went down looking at a 100-mph fastball and Wallner and Kepler swung at 100-mph fastballs to end their at-bats, Kepler failing to check his swing.
It was the first immaculate inning in the majors this season and the first by a Sox since Sloppy Thurston in a game against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1923.
“I was telling guys in [the clubhouse], I’m trying not to lie about it, I was thinking about it from pitch four," Kopech said. "As soon as I realized there were no balls on the board, I wanted to finish that feat off."
A win of any sort is a feat for the Sox (27-68), who beat the Twins (53-40) for the first time in nine games this season before losing 3-2 in Game 2. It broke a three-game losing streak that began with Kopech's debacle in Miami Sunday.
“You could definitely say I needed that," Kopech said.
Kopech's aim in the aftermath of Sunday to throw more offspeed pitches was evident with four cutters.
"It’s been a tough stretch, just felt a little bit inconsistent," said Kopech, in his first year as a closer after starting the last two seasons. "Had a game plan that I’ve been tentative to lean on, and we finally leaned into it the last couple days. [Catcher] Korey’ [Lee has] done a great job of sticking with me through that, and to see it pay off was extremely rewarding. I didn’t expect it to be in that manner, but it was pretty fun.
Michael Kopech pic.twitter.com/FR9tdFo0rp
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) July 10, 2024
“Just to throw more off-speed, throw more breaking balls. I was able to land my cutter probably more consistently than I would have been able to land my fastball today. But it made my fastball play better, which is what we talked about."
"That’s what he’s capable of doing," manager Pedro Grifol said, "and we’re not going to give up on that, ever. That’s the talent that he’s got and that’s what he can bring to the table."
Thorpe makes history, too
By allowing two runs and three hits over six innings in Game 2, rookie right-hander Drew Thorpe became the first Sox pitcher to pitch six innings or more while allowing two or fewer runs and three or fewer hits in each outing.
Thorpe struck out one batter and gave up solo homers in the sixth to Brooks Lee – Thorpe’s college roommate at Cal Poly -- and Carlos Correa.
Thorpe (3.58 ERA) has allowed one, seven, zero, two, one and two earned runs in his six starts.
This and that
Martin Maldonado’s homer in Game 2 was his third in four games. It provided a 2-0 lead.
*Left-handed pitching prospect Jake Eder, who was acquired in a trade for Burger last season, was called up from Double-A Birmingham as the 27th man for the doubleheader but did not pitch.
