White Sox lose grip on AL Central lead after Tigers score 9 unanswered

CHICAGO -- There was a moment Friday night, somewhere early on after first pitch against the Tigers at Rate Field, where the White Sox looked good and their move toward the postseason looked even better.

The A's had jumped to a three-run lead in the first inning at Cleveland, while the White Sox scored six unearned runs in the first and increased their lead to six in the third on Miguel Vargas’ 32nd home run. The deadlock atop the American League Central entering Friday between the White Sox and Guardians looked as if it would be broken in the South Siders’ favor.

Checking back a few hours later, joy had turned to despair in the context of baseball for manager Will Venable’s squad. Detroit scored nine unanswered runs, including five in the eighth, to hand Chicago a heartbreaking 11-8 loss. Cleveland fought back for a 5-3 win, meaning its 79-75 record puts the Guardians one game ahead of the White Sox at 78-76. Chicago holds the tiebreaker over Cleveland after taking the season series, 7-6.

The South Siders have been exceptional at leaving results from the day before in the past history file. With eight games remaining, and their lead over Texas (77-77) down to one game for the final AL Wild Card spot, this setback will be a tougher one to overcome.

“Yeah, it’s tough. No way about it,” Venable said. “Obviously you have a special first inning there and get the lead. Vargy with a nice homer. Just weren’t able to get any outs.”

“Obviously [the Tigers] don’t want to lose either,” said White Sox right fielder Tristan Peters. “And they are going to play their hardest and it’s going to happen sometimes. The only thing we can control is what we do tomorrow.”

This loss went deeper than a gut punch in the playoff standings.

Kevin McGonigle tripled home three runs during a three-run fifth off David Sandlin, ending his night at four-plus innings and 74 pitches. Peters made a lunging effort in right-center to track down McGonigle’s drive, but when he missed, Peters crashed into a pole supporting the outfield fence.

After being down on the ground for a minute or two, Peters left with head athletic trainer James Kruk and was diagnosed with a left shoulder/rib contusion. Peters is day to day, although looked to be in some pain as he got dressed after the loss.

“I feel all right,” Peters said. “We’ll see how it feels tomorrow. Just really sore right now.”

Hao-Yu Lee delivered the game-tying home run off Sean Newcomb in that fateful eighth, with Dillon Dingler singling home the go-ahead run off Bryan Hudson after Gleyber Torres was picked off first base by Hudson. Riley Greene added a two-run homer off Hudson.

Newcomb arguably has been the team’s most valuable pitcher since Opening Day. But the southpaw has given up 12 runs over eight innings in seven September appearances.

“Yeah, I mean, results just aren’t working out the way they were early on,” Newcomb said. “Stuff feels good. The hitters being more prepared or a mixture of pitch calling and location, just not going great.

“Everyone has been saying it: It’s playoff baseball essentially as far as it being a tight race and coming down game to game. Doesn’t get more frustrating than that.”

Colson Montgomery capped that six-run first inning with a bases-clearing three-run double, while Vargas added a run-scoring double before going yard.

Instead, it’s on to Saturday’s third game of this four-game set, followed by Monday’s off-day, three in Kansas City and three at home against the Rockies as the White Sox try to manage an overtaxed bullpen to finish the season. The forecast is calling for rain almost the entire day Saturday, leading the White Sox to move first pitch from 6:10 p.m. CT to 1:10 p.m.

Those gloomy weather conditions match the feeling of the White Sox late Friday night, despite being serenaded by a Cole Swindell postgame concert. As the White Sox have proven all season, there’s always tomorrow, but they are running short on those new days.

“That’s for sure,” Newcomb said. “Guys have been good with that all year, top to bottom, being consistent. A lot of guys digging deep into the gas tank kind of deal. Everyone is digging deep right now.”

“We’ll be fine,” Venable said. “These guys have done it all year. We understand the spot we are in. These guys will be excited to get after it tomorrow.”