Game 51: White Sox 6, Indians 2
They complained, barked, flipped some bats, complained again and flipped some more bats before Tyler Flowers was finally tossed out of the game for arguing balls and strikes. And yet, the White Sox won anyway.
This isn't how you want to open up a series against a division rival if you're the Indians. The heart of the White Sox lineup did what the heart of a lineup is supposed to do, they scored runs. The 2-4 hitters went a combined 7 for 12 with 6 runs scored. Gillespie lead the charge with a 4 for 4 day at the plate.
The Indians got on the board first in the 3rd with a bloop RBI single by Michael Brantley, scoring Lonnie Chisenhall. They would get another run in the 6th after Brantley stole second and was driven in by Ryan Raburn, who was thrown on trying to go to 2nd on the play. The play was challenged and it looked like he might have been safe, but after several minutes the head honchos in NY decided there wasn't enough evidence to overturn the call.
Most of the damage was self-inflicted. After getting two quick outs in the bottom of the 3rd inning, Josh Tomlin got Marcus Semien to put the ball on the ground to 3rd. As you might have guessed, based on the direction of said ball, this wouldn't work out well for the Indians. Chisenhall booted the ball allowing the runner to reach. After a single to Conor Gillaspie, Tomlin hung a 1-2 curveball to Dayan Viciedo which was firmly deposited into the LF seats for a 3-run home run, giving the White Sox the 3-1 advantage at the time.
They scored again in the 6th with 1-out RBI singles from Alexei Ramirez and Alejandro De Aza. Gillaspie tacked on one more for good measure in the 7th with a double in the gap.
In the 8th, the Indians tried to scratch out a rally, managing to load the bases with 2 outs before David Murphy, pinch hitting for Nick Swisher who was removed because of a sore knee, struck out against left-hander Scott Downs.
Tomlin only went 5 innings, officially allowing 5 runs, 2 earned. He was serviceable and predictably Tomlin-esque, but would have been in much better position with some help from his defense. While it is true that a pitcher should help pick up the defense from time to time, things are getting a bit absurd at the hot corner. Jason Kipnis is set to return tomorrow Wednesday. (Insert sarc font) Maybe he can play 3rd base.
Save us, Giovanny Urshela, you're our only hope.
Box Score
Win-expectancy chart:
Source: FanGraphs
Roll Call:
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