After 13 innings, more than four hours, 13 hits, 11 runs, and eight pitchers, the Chicago White Sox still couldn’t escape a wild extra-inning defeat, falling 12-11 to the Boston Red Sox.
Now, with a crucial three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians on deck, the White Sox hold just a three-game lead in the AL Central and a depleted bullpen after a marathon loss. With Noah Schultz set to take the ball Friday, the White Sox may not have much time to recover.
Schultz has reached the sixth inning just three times in 13 starts this season. After Grant Taylor, Jordan Hicks, Erick Fedde, Bryan Hudson and Huascar Brazobán were all used Thursday, Chicago’s bullpen options, especially in high-leverage situations, are limited.
The White Sox are also dealing with a potential setback behind the plate after newly acquired catcher Joey Bart was hit in the left hand by a 98 mph fastball, an injury that could potentially end his season.
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It was the type of loss that can take the wind out of a team’s sails. Not only did the White Sox suffer a sweep, but they also held a lead at some point in every inning from the third through the 12th before ultimately falling in extra innings.
Adding insult to injury, the White Sox were just one strike away from closing out the win in the ninth inning before Wilyer Abreu lined a game-tying RBI single off a sinker from Brazobán to extend the game.
From an offensive standpoint, fatigue could also become a factor. Chase Meidroth, Munetaka Murakami, Miguel Vargas, Andrew Benintendi, Colson Montgomery, Braden Montgomery and Sam Antonacci each logged five plate appearances in Thursday’s marathon loss, many of them in high-leverage situations, adding to the physical and mental toll of a 13-inning game.
“It sucks to lose this one, but we’ve got a game tomorrow, and we’ve got to move forward and take care of business this weekend,” Meidroth, who hit two-home runs on Thursday, told reporters after the loss. “It’s a tough series, no doubt about it, especially with a chance to win tonight and end things on a good note. I think there’s a bunch of stuff we’ve got to do a better job of.”
This is the type of loss that can linger, especially for a team fighting to hold onto a division lead. The White Sox have shown resilience all season, but with the Guardians looming, their margin for error is shrinking. How they respond over the next three games could say a lot about whether this team is built to handle a postseason race.
