Disastrous Ninth Inning
Game Overview
DETROIT — The game was in the White Sox’ grasp until it wasn’t. Despite holding a two-run lead and playing clean baseball for much of the game, the Sox couldn’t close the deal, allowing three runs in the ninth inning to fall to the Tigers 4-3 for their fifth consecutive loss.
Bullpen Struggles
Reliever Fraser Ellard — who had retired left fielder Kerry Carpenter with runners on first and second in the eighth — allowed a single to Javy Baez, who was forced at second on Trey Sweeney’s grounder, and walked Zach McKinstry after a 10-pitch at-bat to put runners on first and second. Ellard said he should’ve taken a breath after McKinstry’s at-bat to re-focus on pinch hitter Riley Greene, but he didn’t. He walked Green on four pitches.
Ellard’s Reflection
“The one I’m really kicking myself is the Riley Greene at-bat,” Ellard said. Right-hander Jordan Leasure entered and walked Andy Ibanez to score a run. The final nail in the coffin came when Spencer Torkelson doubled to left field to drive in McKinstry and Greene for the walk-off win.
Performance Analysis
“It comes down to, I walked two guys, and those guys came in and scored,” Ellard said. It negated a sterling performance by Martin Perez, who allowed one run, four hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 6⅓ innings. “We lost in the last inning,” Perez said. “That’s part of the game, man. As a pitcher, you’ve got to stay on the attack. We got behind, and we walked a couple of guys, and they got a double. But it’s still early. I trust my team, and I trust my pitchers. We’ll be fine.”
Bullpen’s Downfall
The bullpen’s struggles began in the seventh. Right-hander Mike Clevinger got Baez to fly out for the second out, but he walked Sweeney and McKinstry, forcing manager Will Venable to turn to Cam Booser for the final out. Clevinger’s performance portended the performance of the rest of the bullpen, which couldn’t find the strike zone. Penn Murfee followed Booser and allowed a hit and a walk, and Ellard and Leasure combined for three walks. Five Sox relievers allowed six walks, denying the defense the chance to make a play.
Coaching Perspective
“Just too many walks out of the bullpen,” Venable said. “We expect better out of those guys.” The three-game sweep revealed all of the Sox’ flaws. They were outscored 18-9, and their bullpen wasn’t dependable. Entering Sunday, Sox relievers had the 13th-worst ERA in the majors (4.13). “You have to be competitive in the zone,” Venable said of Ellard and Leasure. “You look at the McKinstry at-bat, that was a good at-bat where he battled and earned that walk. But Fraser’s in the game there to get those guys out, and we’ve got to make them put the ball into play.”
Moving Forward
After a would-be win turned into a loss, the Sox have to turn the page before facing the Guardians in their home opener Tuesday. “We have good game plans, our starters are putting us in positions to win,” Ellard said. “The overall performance and product has been a lot cleaner, just got to put everything together.”
Conclusion
The White Sox’ bullpen imploded in the ninth inning, allowing the Tigers to earn a walk-off win and complete a three-game sweep. The team’s struggles with walks and dependable bullpen performance were exposed, highlighting the need for improvement.
FAQs
- What was the final score of the game?
The final score was Tigers 4, White Sox 3. - Who was the losing pitcher?
Fraser Ellard was the reliever who allowed the crucial walks in the ninth inning. - What was the main issue with the White Sox’ bullpen?
The main issue was the high number of walks allowed, with five relievers combining for six walks. - What is the White Sox’ next game?
The White Sox will face the Guardians in their home opener on Tuesday. - What is the current ERA of the White Sox’ relievers?
The White Sox relievers had the 13th-worst ERA in the majors (4.13) entering Sunday.
