A’s series a ‘tough one’ so far for White Sox

OAKLAND — For a short spell within the eighth inning of Saturday’s 7-6 loss to the A’sthe White Sox believed they’d jumped out to a commanding six-run lead when Tim Anderson crushed a fly ball deep into the left-field seats with the bases loaded. Anderson hesitated as he watched the ball soar and land someplace past the foul pole, then rounded the bases when it was dominated a house run.

The thrill did not final lengthy. The decision was overturned upon assessment, and what had initially been dominated a grand slam was merely a foul ball. Anderson stepped again in and flied out to proper subject to finish the inning.

Such is life for the South Siders, who should cease themselves from dwelling on what may have been in a wild back-and-forth contest that swung in favor of the A’s within the Tenth inning.

“We had an opportunity to place these guys away a pair occasions,” supervisor Pedro Grifol mentioned. “Simply did not get the large hit. T.A. hit that ball that was simply foul. That may have put us, clearly, in a great place.”

Whereas the overturned name ended the White Sox rally after they’d plated three runs to steer by two, it appeared to present new life to the A’s.

“It’s a troublesome name for the umpires,” Oakland supervisor Mark Kotsay mentioned. “It was barely foul. I’m glad they received it proper. It was a sigh of aid, actually. That was a turning level within the sport. If that ball is honest, it’s 10-4 and a distinct ballgame.”

The A’s scored twice within the backside of the eighth — after Joe Kelly balked in a run and allowed a game-tying infield single to Tony Kemp — to knot the sport, which remained tied till Oakland walked it off on Elvis Andrus’ Tenth-inning fielding error.

The White Sox fell to 4-7 in additional innings this season and have now misplaced 5 of their final seven collection.

“This one damage a little bit bit,” mentioned Eloy Jiménez, who went 2-for-3 with a booming solo homer and an RBI single to remain sizzling on the plate. “However … we have got a lot baseball left. At present was robust, however tomorrow’s one other sport.”

There was an underlying sense of urgency hanging over the weekend collection in Oakland. Provided that the A’s personal the worst report in baseball at 23-62, the White Sox had been anticipated by many to select up a sport or two within the American League Central standings, the place they path the first-place Twins by 6 1/2 video games.

Now, Chicago is at risk of being swept in three video games by Oakland.

“It is a robust one,” mentioned Dylan Stop, who allowed three runs on six hits and three walks. “We battled to the tip. However sadly, simply a type of that did not go our method.”

Grifol did not maintain again when it got here to creating strikes that he believed would propel his crew to victory, pulling Stop with one out within the sixth inning after he allowed back-to-back extra-base hits that drove in a run. The White Sox right-hander threw 87 pitches.

Chicago’s skipper additionally emptied his bench when the White Sox rallied within the eighth and ninth innings. A kind of strikes proved significantly fruitful, as Carlos Pérez pinch-hit for Seby Zavala with two outs within the eighth and delivered a double that drove within the go-ahead run on the time.

One inning later, one other aggressive transfer didn’t go so nicely for the White Sox. Luis Robert Jr., who went 3-for-5 and scored twice on the afternoon, was at second base with one out after singling and swiping a bag. He made a break for third however stumbled, giving A’s right-hander Trevor Could sufficient time to provoke a 1-4-5 pickoff.

“I needed him at third base earlier than that at-bat’s over,” Grifol mentioned. “While you’re attempting to steal massive bases, that is going to occur generally. That is going to occur at occasions. I am in no way upset about that. I need him being aggressive.”

An absence of payoff has characterised the collection thus far in Oakland. Chicago failed to capitalize on numerous chances so as to add on in Friday’s opener, and that continued Saturday, when the White Sox stranded 11 runners and went 3-for-14 with runners in scoring place.

“It is a robust one as we speak, an actual robust one,” Grifol mentioned. “We used our complete roster, principally, and ended up on the shedding finish. These video games proper right here, once you use each pitcher and everyone on the roster … you need to win them.”