Death by Singles: White Sox Collect Hits, Avoid Runs in Loss to Giants

The Giants tied the game in the third on a Wilmer Flores RBI double off Aaron Civale. That was the beginning of the end, even if the scoreboard didn't yet fully reflect it.

Civale labored through four innings, tossing 80 pitches with just 40 for strikes. He allowed three hits, four walks, and struck out four. He gave up one earned run and generally looked like a guy trying to finish his taxes during the outing.

Noda's Dive, Giants Take the Lead

Tyler Alexander entered in the fifth and held his own, but things unraveled in the sixth. Adames walked, Christian Koss singled, and Patrick Bailey singled to shallow right. Ryan Noda, who hasn't seen consistent outfield work at the major league level, laid out for a diving attempt. The ball skipped past him, and two runs scored.

The official scoring ruled it a hit, and Alexander got charged with the earned runs. He finished with three innings of work, allowing three hits, two walks, and two strikeouts. Tyler Gilbert pitched a clean eighth, and Dan Altavilla tossed the ninth with a strikeout and a pickoff to boot.

Offensively, the Sox continued to shoot themselves in the foot with impressive accuracy. In the fourth, after singles by Kyle Teel and Lenyn Sosa, manager Will Venable called for a sac bunt from Ryan Noda. The bunt worked, but Josh Rojas walked and Michael A. Taylor promptly grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Then in the fifth, the Sox loaded the bases with one out. Teel struck out, Sosa popped up, and the rally died quietly.

News and Notes

• Chicago held Luis Robert Jr. out of Friday's lineup with a sore hamstring that he tweaked in Wednesday's win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

• White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf recently gave a deposition regarding the 2023 shooting incident at Guaranteed Rate Field. Because what's a rebuild without some legal drama?

• Jonathan Cannon made a rehab start with AAA Charlotte and could return as early as Sunday's series finale.

What's On Tap Next?

The White Sox look to even the series Saturday afternoon, with Adrian Houser taking the mound against lefty Robbie Ray. First pitch is at 3:10 PM CT and will air on CHSN.