The White Sox discovered their offense and snapped a five-game losing skid in a 4-3 success over the Pirates on Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park.
” You got ta win,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa stated. “Sometimes youre getting beat where its hard to win one.
The White Sox had been having a hard time at the plate, striking.176/.243/.264 over their past five games. Chicago came out with a different intensity in the box, triggered first by Leury García. In the top of the 2nd, García stepped to the plate, and on the first pitch, he hit a 402-foot blast for his very first crowning achievement of the season to offer the White Sox a 1-0 lead. With the victory, the Sox improved to 38-9 when homering this season.
” It was a hard win,” García stated. “For us to get out of that, we understood it would take something like this. We were able to put everything together today, play good baseball, and take this win.”
Following Garcías crowning achievement, Luis González struck a line-drive double into left field for his first Major League hit. This set up Tim Anderson for a double to bring in González and cap off a two-run second inning. On his birthday, Anderson made his presence felt with a 2-for-5 performance and his 3rd straight birthday video game with an RBI.
Regardless of their rough five-game stretch, the White Sox are still ranked as the 11th-best offense in the Majors. They are hitting.250/.333/.399 with a. 732 OPS.
” I think were commemorating Tims birthday, they were discussing it prior to the video game, during the game and after the video game,” stated La Russa. “You get a day of rest tomorrow, so you get to enjoy it. I think you pick this one if you had to pick one of the five to win. Its all ahead of us, so enjoy it and prepare for the homestand.”
To accompany Chicagos offensive surge, Dylan Cease took the mound and delivered a solid 5 2/3- inning efficiency. Through the first 2 innings, Cease was firing on all cylinders and collected four strikeouts. However, in the bottom of the third, Michael Perez hit a leadoff single into center field, which sparked the Pirates two-run rally to connect the video game at 2.
” Sometimes youre gon na have a pitch that plays a little bit better in one day as opposed to another, however for one of the most part, Im extremely confident,” stated Cease. “They got seven hits off me, so they were still putting the ball in play, but my stuff had the ability to play quite well.”
Cease didnt have his cleanest getaway of the season, devoting a set of mistakes because third frame, however he discovered his areas and enabled two runs (one earned) on 7 hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.
” Anytime you can assist the group get a win, its why Im here. Its not simply all me. In between our defense or offense, Im just delighted to be able to do my part, and my team appeared too,” stated Cease.
Entering Wednesdays match, Chicagos bullpen had actually dealt with a 5.71 ERA and a. 304 challengers average over the teams five-game skid.
Ryan Burr replaced Cease in the bottom of the 6th. On a combined effort from Burr, Codi Heuer, Aaron Bummer and closer Liam Hendriks, Chicagos bullpen held the Pirates to three hits, one run and four strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings.
” It seems like every guy out there sits 98,” said Cease. “Obviously I desire to remain in as long as I can, however you know, we got some guys out there. Their stuff is electric.”
Hendriks entered into the video game in the ninth and provided as soon as again with a three-up, three-down inning to end the game. Hendriks ranks first in the AL with 19 saves this season.
“You see just how special Liam is and a real better. Shut-down better.
” You got ta win,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “Sometimes youre getting beat where its hard to win one. Our people actually worked, coaches worked, but the players really worked to get this win.”
“You get a day off tomorrow, so you get to enjoy it.” Anytime you can help the group get a win, its why Im here.
