The Chicago White Sox are off to the worst start in franchise history; calling one loss more painful than others is difficult. However, on Tuesday, Chicago managed to snatch defeat from the claws of victory. The Minnesota Twins overcame a three-run deficit in the eighth inning and walked the White Sox off in the ninth.
Eloy Jimenez gave the visitors a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning with his second homer of the season.
White Sox starter Erick Fedde was in top form with his most impressive outing to date. The righty tossed six innings of one-run ball, allowed only three hits and no walks, and set a career-high with 11 strikeouts.
Too Good to Be True
The Pale Hose expanded their lead in the top of the seventh on a clutch two-out, two-run base hit from struggling left fielder Andrew Benintendi.
However, previously reliable members of Chicago's bullpen crumbled, allowing five runs in 2.2 innings en route to the 6-5 loss. The Twins chipped away at the lead in the seventh and eighth. Bryon Buxton singled, advanced to second on Jordan Leasure's wild pitch, and scored on Carlos Santana's two-out double.
Full Meltdown
Sox manager Pedro Grifol planned to use Michael Kopech for a two-inning save, but Minnesota had other ideas. Trevor Larnach's two-out, two-run homer cut the Twins' deficit to one in the eighth. This forced Grifol to change his ninth-inning strategy and turn to Steven Wilson, who had been performing well.
However, the lead was short-lived as Buxton hit a leadoff solo homer to tie the game. A walk, a double, and Alex Kirilloff's base hit drove in the game-winning run in Minnesota's walk-off win.
News and Notes
Brad Keller and Mike Clevinger are ramping up and inching closer to their 2024 debuts. Keller pitched 5.2 innings for the Charlotte Knights, and Clevinger is expected to make his first Triple-A start this week.
What's On Tap Next?
The White Sox look to avoid a series loss Wednesday with Garrett Crochet on the mound against Twins' righty Joe Ryan. First pitch is at 6:40 PM CT and the game will air on NBC Sports Chicago.
More must-reads: