The Chicago White Sox allowed five unanswered runs and surrendered two runs in the 10th inning of Wednesday's walk-off loss to the Cleveland Guardians.
For the second straight game, the White Sox offense scored early and often. The South Siders put two on the board in the first inning, and Gavin Sheets added a three-run blast in the third to stake starter Erick Fedde to a five-run lead.
However, much like the previous game, the Guardians chipped away at the lead, this time pulling off a comeback victory.
White Sox pitching managed to hold All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez to an 0-for-5 night, while Sheets drove in five runs for the visitors.
But the Naylor brothers, Josh and Bo, played spoiler. The siblings each drove in a run in the 10th inning off reliever Bryan Shaw with the Guardians down one.
Fedde on a Tee
The Guardians teed off on Fedde for three home runs, chasing him with no outs and the bases loaded in the sixth. Josh Naylor homered for the second straight game to get Cleveland on the board. Later that inning, his brother Bo added a two-run homer to cut the White Sox lead to two. Steven Kwan added a solo homer in the following inning.
Tanner Banks relieved Fedde and managed to escape with limited damage, but Josh Naylor led off the inning and reached base on Braden Shewmake's error. He scored the tying run when Banks plunked David Fry before inducing an inning-ending double play.
The White Sox leadoff hitters doubled in the eighth and ninth innings but were left stranded in each situation before the game went into extra innings.
Extra Hope
Sheets tried to play hero and drove in Lenyn Sosa to take the 10th-inning lead. Manager Pedro Grifol elected to sacrifice Sheets to third on a bunt by Kevin Pillar, but Andrew Benintendi and Martin Maldonado struck out swinging to strand a potential extra run.
Shaw took the ball in the 10th and retired Jose Ramirez on a 0-2 pitch. However, Josh Naylor struck again and doubled home Andres Gimenez to tie the game. Tyler Freeman pinch-ran for Naylor, and Shaw intentionally walked Will Brennan. Ramon Laureano singled to load the bases, and Bo Naylor delivered the game-winner with a base hit to right.
News and Notes
Third baseman Yoan Moncada fell to the ground in pain, running to first in the second inning of the White Sox' 7-5 win on Tuesday. The team announced that Moncada's left adductor strain will keep him on the shelf for 3-6 months, possibly ending his season and White Sox career.
Moncada's injury is another blow to the South Siders' offense, which lost its 2-3-4 hitters on the first road trip of 2024.
While on third base with no outs in the ninth, Paul DeJong elected not to run home on a ground ball as the Guardians turned a crucial double play. Lenyn Sosa grounded out to end the inning without DeJong crossing the plate.
Eloy Jimenez could return to the White Sox lineup on Friday when they open a three-game series in Chicago against the Cincinnati Reds.
What's On Tap Next?
The White Sox return to Chicago for a six-game homestand against the Reds and Kansas City Royals. The Pale Hose begin the stretch on Friday against the Reds with Chris Flexen taking the hill. Cincinnati will send lefty Andrew Abbott to the mound. First pitch is at 6:40 PM CT and the game will air on NBC Sports Chicago+.
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