The Chicago White Sox dropped their third straight game and suffered their fifth shutout loss of the season on Saturday. The Cincinnai Reds' five-run second inning was all they needed to defeat the White Sox and take the weekend series. Chicago's dreadful offense produced only two hits, and a runner didn't reach third base.
After striking out the side in the first inning, White Sox starter Garrett Crochet struggled with command in the second inning, leading to five runs on four hits and two walks. Luke Maile delivered the first blow with a two-run bases-loaded single. With the bases loaded again, Spencer Steer smacked a two-out double to put Cincinnati ahead 5-0.
The Reds have scored 12 runs with two outs in the series' first two games.
Settled in Pitching
Crochet settled in after the disastrous second and allowed only two base runners in the remainder of his start. He walked Santiago Espinal in the fourth and plunked Steer in the fifth. Deivi Garcia relieved him after 92 pitches with two outs in the fifth. Crochet fanned 10 on the afternoon.
Espinal and Steer and a ninth-inning walk to Elly De La Cruz comprised the only Reds' base runners after the second inning. The South Siders relief crew of Garcia, Dominic Leone, Jordan Leasure, and Michael Kopech held Cincinnati hitless over 4.1 innings and fanned five.
Offensive
However, the Pale Hose's inept hitting provided no support for the solid day by their relievers. Cincinnati starter Nick Lodolo held the White Sox hitless until the fifth inning. Kevin Pillar's ninth-inning single accounted for the only other hit of the day.
Fans still in attendance in the ninth started chanting, "Sell the team! Sell the team!" — directing their anger at owner Jerry Reinsdorf.
"Our pitching was good," manager Pedro Grifol said. "We just didn't do anything offensively."
The White Sox fell to 2-12 on the season and have scored one run or less in eight of their 14 games. They've crossed home plate 30 times, the lowest mark in baseball, and trail the Oakland A's for second-worst by 10 runs.
News and Notes
Eloy Jimenez took batting practice off injured reliever John Brebbia before the game and is close to a rehab assignment.
Reliever Bryan Shaw cleared waivers and elected free agency instead of a minor-league assignment.
Stewart Fairchild, Bubba Thompson, and Steer each made great catches in the outfield, robbing Gavin Sheets and Martin Maldonado of potential extra-base hits.
What's On Tap Next?
The White Sox try to avoid a sweep in the series finale with Michael Soroka on the mound. Soroka is searching for his first win with the White Sox and trying to improve upon a rough start. The Reds will send Graham Ashcraft to the bump. First pitch is at 1:10 PM CT and the game will air on NBC Sports Chicago.
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