White Sox 5, Rockies 3: Finally — a win streak!
Friends — that’s two in a row!
Tonight’s game was delayed two hours by rain, and I somehow stayed awake for the whole thing. In case you didn’t, I’ve got you.
The White Sox offense finally awoke from its deep slumber to score five runs, though quite a few walks from Rockies pitcher Dakota Hudson helped in a 5-3 win.
Drew Thorpe looked phenomenal on the mound. He only allowed one hit in the first, a Brenton Doyle single. Dakota Hudson, on the other end, started off rough. He walked Tommy Pham and Andrew Benintendi right away, on four pitches. Hudson could only get breaking balls over the plate, and was able to get Luis Robert Jr. to strike out looking. Then Eloy Jiménez grounded into a double play to save Hudson from any damage.
In the second, the Sox started showing signs of life as both Andrew Vaughn (double) and Paul DeJong (single) got on base. Nicky Lopez followed up with an RBI single to put the Sox on the board.
Oh, and he was mic’d up tonight.
As if I wasn’t already impressed with the rookie, Thorpe had a quick inning with three strikeouts and continued to dominate in the fourth with easy outs.
In the sixth, Thorpe gave up his first walk and a two-run homer to Doyle, giving the Rockies a 2-1 lead. Overall, it was another excellent start.
MLB's No. 53 prospect Drew Thorpe spun a in his @whitesox home debut.
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 29, 2024
6 IP
2 H
2 R
1 BB
4 K pic.twitter.com/1diTLbvc59
The bottom of the sixth was a doozy, but in the best way! Robert started with a double and brought the rain. Jiménez and Vaughn took walks to load the bases, and a DeJong single saw Hudson pulled.
Justin Lawrence stepped in with bases loaded, no outs, but Lopez flied out to center, not deep enough to score Eloy. Korey Lee grounded out, but that got Jiménez home, putting the Good Guys up, 3-2. After another walk to load the bases, Pham got a grounder through, sending two home on a single and a 5-2 lead!
A 4-run frame pic.twitter.com/PGBp5XpMjD
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 29, 2024
Tanner Banks came out for the seventh, and Michael Toglia decided to answer back with a solo homer. The bullpen started warming but it was not needed, as Banks struck out three. That Toglia homer was a little awkward though.
Michael Toglia, who is engaged to Nick Nastrini's sister, just homered to center. 5-3 White Sox in the 7th
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) June 29, 2024
In the eighth it was the other bringer of rain, John Brebbia, out to face the 97-year-old Jake Cave and walked him. You’ve gotta respect your elders. (He’s actually six years younger than I am, somehow.) However, Cave was stranded after Ezequiel Tovar struck out swinging.
And to polish things off, Michael Kopech came out for the 34th time, which is fun since that’s his number. Anyway, he walked Ryan McMahon to start the inning. Thankfully, Brendan Rogers hit into a double play and Toglia grounded out to second, giving Kopech the save. Good bullpen tonight!
Friends, that’s two wins in a row!
2 IN A ROW! pic.twitter.com/L5q3o85ei1
— SoxNerd (@SoxNerd) June 29, 2024
Futility Watch
White Sox 2024 Record 23-61, worst 84-game start in White Sox history (4 1⁄2 games ahead of the next-worst, 1948 White Sox)
White Sox 2024 Run Differential -169, tied for 29th-worst 84-game start in MLB history
White Sox 2024 Season Record Pace 44-118 (.274)
Race to the Worst “Modern” 162-Game Record (2003 Tigers, 43-119) 1 game behind
Race to the Worst “Modern” Record in a 162-Game Season (1962 Mets, 40-120) 3 games behind
Race to the Most White Sox Losses (1970, 106) 12 games ahead
Race to the Worst White Sox Record (1932, 52-109-1*) 8 1⁄2 games ahead
Race to the Worst American League Record (1916 A’s, 38-124*) 6 games behind
*record adjusted to a 162-game season