Frustrating. That’s the only way to describe the Chicago White Sox’s four-game series in Houston.
It was a critical series for the White Sox as they looked to maintain their hold on the No. 2 seed in the American League playoff race. Instead, after dropping three of four to the Astros, that lead has been trimmed to just 1½ games, with Houston also holding the tiebreaker.
The White Sox averaged less than three runs per game in the series, but it wasn’t for a lack of opportunities.
The South Siders drew ten walks in game one, but only recorded five hits, only one of which came with runners in scoring position. Game three saw the White Sox deadlocked in a scoreless tie heading into the eighth.
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Following a leadoff triple from Tristan Peters, it looked like the perfect opportunity to push across the game’s first run. But once again, the offense sputtered.
Drew Romo drew a walk, but Peters was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice the very next batter. A Munetaka Murakami single then loaded the bases on a play that should have brought home a run, but Romo got a bad read off the bat.
Instead of pinch-running for Romo with a faster option off the bench such as Luisangel Acuña, who almost certainly would have scored on the play, Venable opted to leave Romo in the game. He told reporters afterward that the decision was made because Romo was catching a shutout.
Even without that missed opportunity, the White Sox still had the bases loaded with just one out, a situation that should have produced at least one run. Instead, Miguel Vargas grounded into an inning-ending double play.
In the bottom half of the frame, the Astros loaded the bases with one out — exactly the kind of high-leverage situation where Venable has routinely turned to Grant Taylor throughout the season.
Instead, Venable stuck with Sean Newcomb. The left-hander promptly allowed a two-run single to Nelson Velázquez, giving Houston the lead it would never relinquish as the White Sox fell 2-0.
Given how often Venable has trusted Taylor in those situations, the decision to leave Newcomb in the game is another questionable choice that ultimately proved costly.
Thursday’s finale was a culmination of poor starting pitching and another frustrating display of untimely hitting.
Luis Castillo got shelled, allowing six runs on six hits and two walks, and was chased from the game after four innings while White Sox bats went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
One of the biggest culprits was Murakami, who went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the 6-2 loss. Over the four-game series, Murakami was just 2-for-14 at the plate with six strikeouts, although he did draw five walks.
For a White Sox team fighting to secure the No. 2 seed in the American League, this was a series filled with missed opportunities on both sides of the ball and one that this young White Sox team would like to quickly forget.
The White Sox are now 23-21 since the All-Star break. While that is certainly a respectable record, it’s fair to wonder whether the grind of a 162-game season is beginning to take its toll. For much of this lineup, this is the most games they have ever played in a single season, making fatigue a legitimate concern as the regular season enters its final stretch.
