Today in White Sox History: April 28
Tony Armas goes deep to center in a wild Boston victory
1901
Bock Baker of the Blues surrendered a record 23 singles to the White Sox, who crushed Cleveland, 13-1, at South Side Park without the assistance of an extra-base hit. Fred McMullin led Chicago with four singles, while everyone in the lineup got at least one safety. Clark Griffith threw the complete-game win, and had a single to boot. Remarkably, all seven of Cleveland’s hits are also singles, making 30 total in the game.
1926
The White Sox won their 2,000th game in franchise history, as they outslugged the Tigers in Detroit, 9-5. Tommy Thomas pitched into the eighth inning for the win. Outfielder Johnny Mostil drove in two runs on the afternoon. Jim Edwards picked up the save, the only one in his White Sox career.
1946
White Sox pitcher Ted Lyons won his 260th career game — and it would be his last in the major leagues. The future Hall-of-Famer beat the St. Louis Browns, 4-3. Lyons finished his career throwing 28 straight complete games, dating back to 1941 (Lyons missed three years serving in World War II)! He had 17 seasons with 10 or more wins, and three times topped 20 or more. Lyons No. 16 was retired by the White Sox in 1987.
1984
In Boston’s 8-7 win at Comiskey Park, Tony Armas clubbed a home run into the center field bleachers, becoming just the sixth hitter ever to accomplish the feat. It was the first time in 14 years that a player had hit the bleachers with a home run, and just the second in 46 seasons.
Britt Burns, pitching in relief, blew the save to cost Tom Seaver his 274th career victory and first of 1984. The White Sox had been up big early, as much as 6-0. The eventual winning run ended up scoring on an error by Scott Fletcher.
Notable in this game also was a home run from slap hitter Julio Cruz, just one of 23 in his career and the only grand slam in his 1,156 games.
2008
It was a rare, suspended game, one that would end up being completed — in another city. After already seeing Friday night rained out to force a Saturday doubleheader, the White Sox and Orioles waited through inhospitable weather to try playing this strange Monday finale to a four-game series. Rain soaked the uncovered infield all game, puddling water and forcing suspension of the game as the game went to the 12th inning. Juan Uribe refused to let the South Siders die, driving out a solo shot off of O’s closer George Sherrill.
A daylong rain had soaked the muddy infield with puddles, so umpires called for the tarp after the inning and moments later came an announcement that the game was suspended. First pitch was delayed more than two hours, and the game started at 38° with 12 mph winds, making the wind chill 27°. Rain fell all game long, and players were ski-masked to stave off frostbite.
The game was completed on August 25, with the Orioles playing as the visiting team at Camden Yards. Baltimore prevailed in the 14th, 4-3, on a bases-loaded single by Luis Montañez. In the bottom half of the inning, Jermaine Dye pinch-hit for Uribe with two outs and the sacks packed, but popped out to end the game.
However, in the “regular” game starting the series at Camden Yards, the White Sox won, 4-3, to move into sole possession of first place in the AL Central. The White Sox would remain there for a month, before slipping out late in the year and setting up what would be a thrilling division win in Game 163 vs. Minnesota.
2015
Protests in Baltimore over the brutal arrest of Freddie Gray forced the cancellation of the White Sox-Orioles game there. In an unprecedented decision, the April 29 game will be played, without spectators.
2019
White Sox pitcher Reynaldo López showed his promise and potential in an afternoon game at Guaranteed Rate Field. López struck out 14 Tigers in six innings, allowing one unearned run, as the White Sox won, 4-1. It was only the third time since 1908 that a pitcher went at least six innings, striking out 14, with no earned runs.
To top it off, White Sox relievers fanned six more Detroit hitters (Jace Fry, Kelvin Herrera, Alex Colomé struck out two apiece), giving the Tigers 20 for the game. It was the seventh time a team had struck out 20 batters, tying the record for most strikeouts in a nine-inning contest.