White Sox magic number continues shrinking despite latest blunder
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CHICAGO – Everything went as the White Sox wanted during Wednesday night’s baseball action.
Cleveland lost, lowering the South Siders’ magic number to 14 in the American League Central, assuming the White Sox maintain their season-series edge on the Guardians with three games on the docket from Sept. 14-16 in Cleveland. Toronto and Texas lost, dropping their Magic Number to 13 to clinch a playoff spot.
Even Houston lost in the battle for the AL’s No. 2 seed and an ensuing Wild Card round bye, keeping the White Sox edge at 1 1/2 games. Here’s the only problem: The White Sox also lost their second straight to the Pirates, dropping a 4-2 decision.
The setback wasn’t without a little on-field histrionics. With the bases loaded and one out in the seventh, Miguel Vargas hit into an inning-ending double play started by third baseman Jared Triolo. Sam Antonacci, who drove in the White Sox run with an infield single, appeared to throw a slight elbow with his left arm into second baseman Brandon Lowe on the slide, leading to both benches and bullpens emptying.
The Pirates employed a bullpen game, much as the White Sox did during a Sunday victory over the Twins. Davis Martin allowed one run over five innings on an Esmerlyn Valdez home run off an 0-2 sinker in the fifth, and struck out one with two walks. The Pirates added three in the seventh off Sean Newcomb.
Munetaka Murakami, who homered in the eighth, had a streak of eight straight plate appearances with a strikeout, dating back to Sunday night, come to an end when he was hit by a Gregory Soto pitch in the sixth. Colson Montgomery struck out three times, making him the third player in franchise history to reach 200 in a single season at 201. Adam Dunn had 222 in 2012 and Yoán Moncada had 217 in 2018.
Following Murakami’s blast, the White Sox loaded the bases with one out against Luke Weaver. But Chase Meidroth’s line drive, with a Statcast-projected 100.6 mph exit velocity, was caught by Triolo and turned into an unassisted double play.