White Sox Fight to the Finish, Fall Short in Extras Against Rangers

South Siders Show Fight but Fall in the End

Chicago got on the board in the fourth when Chase Meidroth led off with a single and reached third on Miguel Vargas’s double. Kyle Teel just missed a three-run homer, but settled for a sac fly. 

Luis Robert Jr. then punched a single through center to score Vargas and make it 2–0.

The lead didn’t last. Josh Smith and Corey Seager opened the fifth with back-to-back doubles to slice the deficit to one. 

In the seventh, with rookie Grant Taylor on the mound, the Rangers broke through again. Wyatt Langford singled, Seager walked, and Marcus Semien delivered an RBI double. Seager later scored on a wild pitch to make it 3–2, Texas.

The White Sox answered in the eighth. Edgar Quero singled to left, and Will Venable pinch ran for him, losing the designated hitter in the process. Brooks Baldwin scored on Mike Tauchman’s single to right, tying the game at 3-3. 

While the decision to pinch-run and lose the DH drew some side-eye, it’s unlikely Quero scores on the play.

Too Many Ks, Not Enough Hits Late

With Jordan Leasure pitching in the eighth, Josh Smith doubled with two outs and scored on a throwing error by Meidroth. Down a run in the ninth, Teel singled with one out. Venable pinch-hit Michael A. Taylor for Ryan Noda, and the veteran delivered, lining a two-out double to left center that allowed Teel to sprint home and tie the game.

The extra innings, however, went quietly for the Sox. Tyler Alexander handled the 10th and 11th innings with Dan Altavilla the only arm left in the bullpen. Alexander got out of a jam in the 10th, but with two outs and runners on second and third in the 11th, Adolis García laced a single to center to end it.

News and Notes

• Luis Robert Jr. is showing signs of life since his tune-up with hitting director Ryan Fuller and hitting coach Marcus Thames. In five games since the work, he’s gone 7-for-21 with two doubles, a home run, and four RBIs.

• Through five games on their current six-game road trip, White Sox hitters have struck out 65 times. That’s not a typo.

• The White Sox made Aaron Civale’s addition to the active roster official, optioning lefty reliever Tyler Gilbert in the process. They also sent struggling first baseman Tim Elko to Triple-A, replacing him with Ryan Noda, whom they recently claimed off waivers.

What’s On Tap Next?

The White Sox wrap up their road trip Sunday afternoon in Arlington, hoping to avoid the sweep. Right-hander Aaron Civale makes his White Sox debut, while the Rangers send Kumar Rocker to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 PM CT on CHSN.