It would be easy to feel demoralized after dropping a game like the White Sox did on Sunday afternoon. Their best player, Jose Abreu, was struck in the knee with a pitch and forced to leave the game in a horrific scene for White Sox fans. It was a blow that further gutted an already depleted White Sox lineup.
The White Sox still managed to enter the ninth inning with the score tied. Unfortunatley their 54 million dollar closer Liam Hendriks allowed a two-out home run to the Seattle Mariners number nine hitter, Taylor Trammell. Yasmani Grandal gave the White Sox hope with a leadoff single in the bottom half of the inning. Then Jake Lamb drove a ball deep into the gap but Trammell tracked it down just before it hit the wall to preserve the tie. The play would turn out to be a game saver as Yermin Mercedes grounded into a double play to end the game. It marked the White Sox’s seventh loss in 10 games.
The 3-2 loss felt like a gut punch. Losing the heart and soul of the team did not help the matter. Tony La Russa was forced to trot out a patchwork lineup in Game 2 a few minutes later. Relief pitcher Ryan Burr did not know he would be starting on the mound until the end of the first game.
That lack of prep did not affect him much as he threw two scoreless innings. A parade of six more relievers followed him. Garrett Crochet, Evan Marshall, Codi Heuer, and Aaron Bummer helped carry a combined no-hitter into the sixth inning. Until that point, the Mariner’s only run came courtesy of three walks from Garrett Crochet and a free pass from Evan Marshall with the bases loaded.
With the White Sox offense struggling it was two unlikely heroes that provided the firepower. In the bottom of the first Yermin Mercedes doubled on a sharp line drive down the left-field line. Tim Anderson and Brian Goodwin scored on the play. Mercedes has been floundering as of late, with many fans calling for him to be optioned to Triple-A Charlotte.But Mercedes has been working hard to break out of his slump and his manager is taking notice.
“There’s no question that his work, the process is working good and he’s taking it into the game,” Tony La Russa told reporters. “He looks more like he did early, right? It’d be great for him to get back to being himself. He was critical today. It’s exciting to see him have those kinds of at-bats.”
Off to a great start! pic.twitter.com/5xg6hFyAtw
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 27, 2021
In the bottom of the third, backup catcher Zack Collins provied some breathing room for the White Sox. He hit a double over the head of Taylor Trammell that allowed Yermín Mercedes to race around the base paths and score from first base.
In the next inning, Mercedes hit a soft chopper to third base. He beat out the throw by diving headfirst into first base for an RBI-infiled single. His two-out hit kept the inning alive for Zack Collins who blew the game open with a bases clearing double off the wall. Collins had 4 RBIs with the Yerminator tacking on 3 RBIs. It is just the second multi-RBI game for Mercedes in June. Collins and Mercedes drove in all seven of the White Sox runs.
Collins has had to try and make the most of limited at-bats this season. After playing every day in Charlotte in 2019 he has had to get used to a backup role in 2021. He has struggled at the plate most of the season but feels like he is starting to put it together. Zack Collins has now reached base safely in 11 of his last 13 games, going 11–35 (.314/.385/.457) with five doubles, 10 RBI and four runs scored.
Come on everybody! pic.twitter.com/nYb83jE6Rl
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 27, 2021
“I’m just feeling more comfortable up there,” Collins said. “every at-bat, it’s starting to feel like a normal at-bat, nothing crazy like, “There’s 35,000 people in the stands, I better get a hit type of thing. Honestly, I feel that, for the first year for me, I feel comfortable and I’ve been swinging it well.”
It should have been a comfortable 7-1 victory but Jimmy Lambert made things interesting in the sixth and seventh. Luis Gonzalez saved a run in the sixth by throwing out Kyle Seager at home from right field to end the inning. In the seventh Lambert allowed a three-run homer to cut the lead down to 7-5. Liam Hendriks was called upon for the second time of the day. This time he redeemed himself, retiring both batters he faced for his 20th save of the season.
The win puts the White Sox 2 and a half games ahead of the Cleveland Indians for first place in the AL Central.
