Will Bryant blasted a three-run homer to put the Angels ahead in the bottom of the fourth inning at Madison. Lefty Ken Grawburg had kept the Angels at bay until that point, picking off three in five innings of work. The Sox took an early lead with 3 runs in the first, but could muster nothing more at the plate and finished with only 3 hits. Kevin Lewis drove in two runs for the White Sox.
The Palehose look to get back on track Thursday, in St. Clair Shores, versus the Motor City Woodpeckers.
The 42+ White Sox were shut down by Fred Schwarze and Bruce Hoffman at Bicentennial Wednesday night, falling 8-0. The Sox gave themselves chances to score, but couldnt close the deal, leaving 6 men aboard. Lehman and Wakeford pitched well for the Palehose, who did them no justice in the field, or at the plate. Brian Sexton tallied two hits for the SouthSiders in the losing cause, leading him to rethink his re-upping with the squad last March.
The Sox are back at Hazel Park on Saturday to face the O's in a noon-hour tilt. Tickets available.
Undermanned Sox fall to First Place Orioles White Sox scramble around player emergencies
At Hazel Park Saturday afternoon, the White Sox got started early, plating four runs in the top of the first. In a game best forgotten quickly, they scored only one after that. Ari Lehman was pressed into starting a second straight game as an emergency replacement, and admirably kept the Sox in striking distance. The game got out of hand in the fifth and was called for time.
In highlights, Brian Sexton continued with the hot bat, and Mark Suyama joined him among the league hitting leaders. Kevin Lewis pitched for the first time since 2013. Left Fielder Dan Wood, Sexton and catcher Brad Rosenberg combined to nail a runner at the plate in the 3rd.
The Palehose are back in action Tuesday the 28th, and Thursday the 30th, vs. the Woodpeckers, at Ford Field Livonia and Kyte 1 St. Clair Shores, respectively. They'll face Mudville Monday August 3rd at Bicentennial Park. The first 3 fans at each game will receive souvenir unsigned used baseballs.
Sox Stumble Early, Rally, then Fall Short in Ford Field Tilt
FORD FIELD LIVONIA - The White Sox dropped their fourth straight, falling to the Woodpeckers 12-7 at Ford.
Everyone knows, Woodpeckers are instigators and troublemakers. The White Sox had a plan: treat these 'Peckers like RoadRunners, another instigating cartoon bird that gets away with everything. The scheme included anvils, poorly-designed cannon, and painting tunnels in the side of cliffs, but in the end, the plan failed to launch like an Acme bottle rocket.
In the top of the first inning, Sox newcomer Harry Mihas suffered from shoulder tightness and was forced from the game after facing only five batters. Suffering a severe loss of control, he hit Woodpecker Eddie Alberts with a pitch, as Alberts stood left-handed in the right-handed batter's box. Art Wakeford took over and limited the damage, pitching through the fourth and allowing only two runs after the first. Lefthander Paul Gardulski took over in the fifth, striking out five over three innings work.
Both sides were solid defensively, with precious few runs scored in the middle stanzas. Sox bats eventually awakened, and the guys in white tied the score in the bottom of the sixth, with a 2-RBI triple from Terry Graham, who was then driven in by shortstop Nate Moore.
In the top of the seventh, the Woodpeckers responded with consecutive singles and benefitted from a couple more hit batsmen. The White Sox, frustrated like a coyote searching for answers in an ACME catalog, could not answer in the bottom half.
The same two squads will face off again Thursday night in St. Clair Shores in a make-up game. Disappointed fans should contact the Woodpeckers front office for a full refund on season tickets.
ST. CLAIR SHORES - Ken Grawburg threw a six-inning time-limited complete game, and Greg Chastang led the offensive assault with 3 RBI, as the White Sox finally busted into the win column.
After jumping out early with a couple first-inning runs, the Woodpeckers took the lead in the second and staked a 6-4 lead after 5. But the Sox managed to get a couple baserunners and show tremendous hustle on the paths by Wilkson, Witherspoon and Suyama. Chastang singled and Grawburg doubled and each pounded two RBI in the top half.
With the time limit approaching in the bottom of the inning, the Southsiders scored two quick outs before a run-inducing double by Woodpecker Carter. With Carter on third, Grawburg dug deep with Telang at the plate, and froze him for strike three and the win.
Suyama, Chastang, Grawburg, and Kevin Lewis all gathered two hits each, with Lewis joining Witherspoon with two steals apiece. Grawburg fanned five.
Mudville is up next for the White Sox, 6:00 PM Monday at Bicentennial.
Palehose have their typical "but-for" inning, fall to Mudville 12-3
BICENTENNIAL PARK LIVONIA - The White Sox jumped out to an early lead again, but their bats grew lazy and gave up the big inning. It follows an unsatisfactory pattern for this 2020 short season.
Mudville's John Mullane stymied the Sox batsmen, mastering the expanded strike zone, striking out five while walking only one in a complete game effort. The 'Ville's defense proved as effective as necessary, causing the Palehose to leave 5 runners languishing on the bases.
Meanwhile, Art Wakeford pitched carried his team for four innings before being spelled by Ken Grawburg, who left after a single clean stanza with the game tied. On offense, the White Sox couldn't sustain anything in support. Mudville held a big sixth inning walkathon to put the game out of reach.
Mark Suyama managed to raise his lofty average to take the league lead at .778 on a 2-for-2 night, scoring twice and stealing a base for good measure. Brian Sexton doubled and picked up 2 more RBI, while Grawburg, Terry Graham, Dan Wood and Chris Wilkson all recorded hits.
The White Sox schedule shows the next four games at Hazel Park, starting with the Braves Thursday night.
Snakebit Sox scratch another pitcher to injury; bats can't make up the difference
Ari Lehman and Gerry Garcia did their best to keep the hard-hitting Braves at bay, but with almost no offensive production, the Braves quickly built a double-digit lead and never looked back.
Paul Gardulski & Brian Sexton managed to have good nights statistically, with both men going 2 for 3, but the effort was sullied as both were put out on a bizarre pickle double play. Like the rest of the game, best forgotten.
Next up for the Sox is the battle for Windy City Bragging Rights with a twinbill at Hazel Park on Sunday.
Hazel Park Battle is first step toward Windy City bragging rights
HAZEL PARK - In the first game of a Chicago namesake double-header, Ken Grawburg gave up only one earned run in a White Sox win. Grawburg tallied his second win en route to a complete game victory, striking out four and perservering through a serious of tough defensive chances.
The Southsiders tallied four runs in the first inning and added five more in the top of the third. Keith Witherspoon, Brian Sexton, Kenneth Grawburg and Mark Suyama all tallied two hits each, with Sexton scoring thrice. But the day was won by Kevin Lewis, who went 3-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI, scoring two runs, and adding a slick double play on defense, just for good measure.
Southsiders roll Cubs 21-6, sweep Second City twinbill
Sox retain momentum and finish off the best weekend in team's history
HAZEL PARK - Paul Gardulski kept the Cubbie bats quiet, striking out four, as the scrambled White Sox batting order provided tons of firepower, building an insurmountable lead by the third inning and cruising to the win. His own triple in the 4th drove in two more runs and sealed the deal, with Ari Lehman and Pete Salvato ably finishing up the shortened game.
Suyama and Sexton continued their battle for the batting average league in the 42s, with Sexton closing the gap to 21 points. Suyama went 3 for 4, scoring 5 runs on the day, and Sexton went 3 for 3, with 3 walks, scoring 6 runs. Sexton landed at .667 while Suyama is at .688 .
Keith Witherspoon and Kevin Lewis drove in 5 runs on the day, and Bret Roedemeier drove in 4 in just the second game. Brad Rosenberg had the biggest RBI day, driving in 6 runs in the two games. All four players joined Dan Wood with doubles on Sunday.
Coming off the sweep, the Palehose have managed to extricate themselves from the cellar. They will next face the Red Sox August 14 at Hazel Park, kicking off an intense 5-game stretch. The White Sox will see the Cubs once more, Sunday August 23 at Bishop Foley. Tickets remain available for both contests.
HAZEL PARK - The White Sox were forced to pitch with position players with predictable results, falling 21-0. Brian Birchenough frustrated Sox batters all day in a complete game victory. The loss was completely forgotten by the White Sox by the time happy hour rolled around.
The Sox next meet the Angels Monday night at Bicentennial.
White Sox come from behind, catch Angels at Bicentennial
Palehose Charge from 10th to 7th in the Hughes Division
LIVONIA BICENTENNIAL – Superutility Rod Gillespie drove in the tying runs, then scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth, and Ari Lehman took charge, silencing Angels bats to pick up his first win of the year.
The Southside Hitmen welcomed new member Joe Bush, who started on the mound and did a fine job, contributing at the plate as well. But after he tired in the fourth, the Sox looked to Lehman, just as the Angels scored 6 and took the lead 8-7 after 4 innings.
Pitching for the Halos, Greg McGlone’s had the White Sox hitters guessing all night, stranding two men to end a threat in the fifth. The Sox put it all together with the meat of the order up in the sixth. Gillespie knocked in two to tie the score, and then raced around on a single by catcher Brad Rosenberg to give the Sox the lead.
In the top of the seventh, an Angels runner reached first on an error with one out. But the next hitter slapped a bounding ball to Sox first baseman Terry Graham, who touch first for the force and fired to shortstop Nate Moore for the tag, ending the game on a double play.
Brian Sexton and Mark Suyama continue to pace the Sox in hitting. Keith Witherspoon stole two more bases to run his total to 8, Kevin Lewis chasing him with 6. Graham drove in another run, leading the team with 9, followed by Lewis, Sexton, and Paul Gardulski with 8, and Rosenberg with 7. Greg Chastang, Gillespie and Sexton each drove in two Monday. Bush went 2-for-2 and looked very comfortable playing with guys his own age. Lehman pitched well, facing 16 batters, striking out two and giving up only three hits.
With the Angels having won the season opener, the teams split the series for the year. The White Sox will be Back in Black against the Mudville Nine, at Kyte Monroe Thursday night. The first 10,000 fans over 80 years old will receive hand sanitizer and a pair white socks.
ST. CLAIR SHORES – The White Sox were flying high, fresh off a comeback win over the Angels and sporting slick all-black uniforms for the late game versus Mudville.
Then the game started.
With just 11 players present, catcher Dan Wood was injured in his first at-bat, reaching safely and knocking in a run, then walking to the dugout, out for the season. The White Sox momentarily seemed to adjust, holding the Mudvillians to just one run on an error in the first, but after that, the Southsiders forgot how to catch or throw. After giving up a ton of unearned runs in the second, the Sox matched the feat in the third, committing error after error behind reliever Paul Gardulski.
Meanwhile, Mudville was playing perfect baseball. Jimmy Taylor controlled the pace as the Mudville infield handling routine balls, which same batted balls had seemed invisible to the visiting Sox. Note to self: if you commit 4x as many errors as your opponent, you have no chance of winning, but if you do somehow manage to exceed 4x, you stand an excellent chance of humiliation. After the game, players blamed the color of their baseball pants as the reason for choking. The bewildered manager could only mutter to himself, “Sidd Finch was supposed to be here. He said he wanted to play. 85-90, he said….”
The game was not without some good White Sox hitting. Newcomer Bret Roedemeier doubled and tripled, driving in 3. Keith Witherspoon and Kevin Lewis each picked up two hits and a stolen base. Brian Sexton went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI but, at his torrid hitting pace, this actually lowered his BA. Terry Graham doubled but ceded the team RBI lead to Sexton.
The White Sox will look to get back on track Sunday, facing a motivated Cubs team at Bishop Foley.
MADISON HEIGHTS – Nate Moore walked off with a 2-out double in the bottom of the seventh, plating the tying and winning runs, as the White Sox completed a Chicago-series sweep against the Cubs.
Moore and Keith Witherspoon paced the home Sox at Bishop Foley. “Spoon” stole two bases on two hits with three RBI, while Moore did the same but with four RBI, including two on the last at-bat double to right, just out of the reach of the Cubs right fielder. Bret Roedemeier trotted in from third, and Kevin Lewis raced around from second base for the sudden-death win.
The dramatics would have been unnecessary, but for White Sox blunders in the top of the inning. In a game which featured six double plays – four by the Sox – the home team acted like they didn’t want it. They committed four errors behind lefty reliever Paul Gardulski and blew a two run lead, along with starter Pete Salvato’s chance at a well-deserved W. Finally, Brian Sexton’s diving grab of a pop-up got the Sox back in the dugout and on-task – to score two for the win.
The Cubs played well, committing just one error for the game and doing a great job of “hitting ‘em where they ain’t”. Pitcher Neil Schliewe kept the Southside Hitmen off-balance all afternoon, shutting down all extra-base hits while the Cubs position players put on a fundamentals clinic.
Several Sox players managed to remove monkeys from their backs. Chris Wilkson walked twice and scored a run and Rod Gillespie doubled for the first time in a while. The aforementioned Salvato pitched five solid innings, facing one in the sixth before exiting, but the win eluded him when the Palehose gave up the lead. Kevin Lewis stayed hot, as he reached base and scored in all three of his at-bats.
The Sox return to action Wednesday against the Cardinals. Souvenir baseball cards will be provided for all the kiddies, and 40 oz Hamms are available for sale at nearby dram shops.
BICENTENNIAL LIVONIA – Fresh off a win over the Cubs, the Sox looked good taking a 2-1 lead into the 3rd inning, but couldn’t keep pace with the Cardinals pitcher Ed Collins.
Palehose starter Joe Bush took one for the team, covering all seven innings in front of a mixed-bag effort by the White Sox. Mark Suyama and Brian Sexton had two-hit days, but as has been the pattern lately, the White Sox struggled to do much more. The contest marked the 8th game in 21 days for the Southsiders, who went 4-4 for the stretch.
Wednesday, the Sox will look to right the ship against Mudville on the moonscape known as Ford Field.
White Sox Schedule