Introduction to the Game
The White Sox needed better starting pitching and a better offense to break their late-summer slump, and they got both Monday, outslugging the Braves 13-9 to end a four-game losing streak.
The Game’s Progress
There might have been a bit of a sour taste in their mouths after another shaky night for the bullpen almost led to the Sox coughing up a 10-1 lead, but this team will take victories any way it can get ’em. Brooks Baldwin got a cathartic night for the offense started with a 404-foot solo home run off Braves starter Spencer Strider in the third. The Sox added six runs in the fourth, starting when Luis Robert Jr. lined a two-run homer into the left-field bullpen for his first round-tripper in two weeks.
Key Players’ Contributions
After singles by Kyle Teel — who later homered — and Chase Meidroth and a walk by Baldwin, Mike Tauchman hit a two-run double to knock Strider out of the game. Miguel Vargas added a sacrifice fly, and hot-swinging Lenyn Sosa swatted an RBI single off reliever Austin Cox to cap the inning. The Sox had scored a combined five runs during their skid. Sosa added an exclamation point with a mammoth 439-foot, three-run homer in the sixth, his team-leading 17th of the season.
Yoendrys Gómez delivers in the third inning against the Braves on Monday.
The Pitching Performance
Right-hander Yoendrys Gomez, making his second big-league start since the Sox picked him off the Dodgers’ scrap heap, mostly cruised until a double by Matt Olson in the fifth led to an RBI grounder by Ronald Acuna Jr. Michael Harris II tagged Gomez for a two-run homer in the sixth, and manager Will Venable gave him the hook soon after, ending his night after five innings and three earned runs, He struck out three and walked one.
The Late Rallies
The Braves — who put shortstop Luke Williams on the mound when it looked like a blowout — made a game of it with late rallies sparked by Jurickson Profar, who homered against relievers Mike Vasil and Owen White. But the Sox hung on. ‘‘It was a great day overall,’’ Venable said. ‘‘Just got to try to stop the bleeding there with the bullpen.’’
Perez Returns to Rotation
After demoting right-hander Sean Burke to Triple-A Charlotte, the Sox announced left-hander Martin Perez will take the mound Wednesday against the Braves for his first start since April after working his way back from a forearm injury that initially seemed likely to end his season. Perez, better known as ‘‘El Jefe’’ in the clubhouse, pitched 3⅓ innings in relief last week against the Tigers. Right-hander Aaron Civale’s originally scheduled start was pushed to Friday at home against the Twins. White was called up from Charlotte to take Burke’s place on the active roster. He gave up four runs in a third of an inning.
Conclusion
The White Sox’s victory over the Braves marked the end of their four-game losing streak, thanks to a strong performance by their offense and a decent outing by their pitching staff. Although the bullpen had a shaky night, the team managed to hold on and secure the win.
FAQs
- Q: Who started the game for the White Sox?
A: Yoendrys Gomez started the game for the White Sox. - Q: Who hit a 439-foot, three-run homer in the sixth inning?
A: Lenyn Sosa hit a 439-foot, three-run homer in the sixth inning. - Q: Who will take the mound for the White Sox on Wednesday?
A: Martin Perez will take the mound for the White Sox on Wednesday.
