Rookie rules: Thompson powers White Sox
CHICAGO -- Rookie Trayce Thompson finished a home run short of the cycle and drove in three as the White Sox rallied for a 5-4 victory over the Red Sox Tuesday night at U.S. Cellular Field. Chicago ended a two-game losing streak and improved to 4-2 on the season against Boston.
Thompson tripled in the second off losing pitcher Wade Miley, singled home a run in the fourth and then delivered a game-winning two-run double off Miley in the seventh. The line shot rolled under Hanley Ramirez's glove in left, but Thompson was credited with both RBIs scoring Melky Cabrera and Avisail Garcia. The White Sox bullpen finished off the victory, with Zach Duke striking out the side in the eighth and David Robertson closing matters in the ninth with two more strikeouts..
"Once the game starts, once you dig into the box, I think it's the fact that it's just the same. It's the exact same," said Thompson of his early success, producing 12 hits in 23 at-bats and five RBIs. "Everything is the same as Rookie ball or [Class] A ball, so it's been very comfortable for me."
• Thompson's confidence gets big boost
Miley pitched well into the seventh, although he allowed five runs on 13 hits over 6 2/3 innings. Jake Petricka earned the victory in relief of White Sox starter Jose Quintana, who lasted six innings and 99 pitches. Mookie Betts had two hits and two runs scored for the Red Sox.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
If it's Quintana, it must be a no-decision: The White Sox starter finished with his 48th no-decision since 2012, a Major League high, and his ninth of the 2015 season thanks to the team's three-run seventh. Quintana allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits. He fanned six and didn't issue a walk. He also kept the White Sox close enough to rally.
Video: BOS@CWS: Quintana gives up three runs over six frames
"That's really important, because you put your team in a situation for the comeback," Quintana said. "They did and we came back, Thompson had a really good at-bat and we won. And tomorrow we'll try to get the series."
Bradley breaks out hose: By now, teams should know better than to run on Jackie Bradley Jr. When Soto hit a hit-and-run single to right in the eighth, Sanchez tried to go first to third. But Bradley had other ideas, making an absolute cannon throw to third to nail the runner, as Pablo Sandoval slapped down the tag. The White Sox challenged the play, but it stood after a delay of just over a minute.
Video: BOS@CWS: Bradley throws out Sanchez at third base
"I just put up the glove and closed my eyes and tried to catch it," quipped Sandoval. "He threw a bullet to third base." More >
Baserunning blunders: The White Sox scored their first run of the game off Miley in the second, but they also had two runners thrown out on the basepaths: Thompson at home and Geovany Soto at third. As a team, the White Sox have had 59 runners thrown out on the basepaths this season, with Carlos Sanchez being thrown out trying to go from first to third with one out in the eighth on Gordon Beckham's second straight hit.
Video: BOS@CWS: Panda cuts down a run at home
"The last one, sometimes you have to tip your hat. Bradley had a great throw, hit and run, Sanchy is going," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "There's aggressive and then there's the overaggressive where you have to see it out in front of you."
Mookie's hustle pays off: When Betts ripped a double to left in the third, the White Sox tried to get Josh Rutledge out at the plate. When Alexei Ramirez's throw home sailed wildly, Betts roared all the way home to make it 2-0 on the "Little League" home run.
QUOTABLE
"I've also grown up in the brightest lights with my dad and his job and stuff, but it's just baseball to me. It's having fun and these guys make it very comfortable and easy for me." -- Thompson, whose dad, Mychal, and brother, Klay, have been part of NBA championships, and whose brother, Mychel, also played in the NBA.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
Thompson was credited with a triple with one out in the second, a play that was challenged by Boston manager Torey Lovullo. Following a review, the replay official could not definitively determine that the batter-runner's right hand lost contact with the bag throughout the tag and the call stood.
Video: BOS@CWS: Thompson safe at third after challenge
In the eighth, Ventura challenged an out call at third on Sanchez, who had tried to advance from first on Beckham's single. The call also stood after video review.
FINISHING THE JOB
White Sox relievers have a 1.66 ERA over their last 18 games covering 48 2/3 innings.
WHAT'S NEXT
Red Sox: Right-hander Rick Porcello returns from the disabled list to pitch Wednesday's 8:10 p.m. ET game against the White Sox. Porcello was sidelined with a right triceps strain. In his last start before going on the DL, Porcello was shelled by the White Sox to the tune of 10 hits and six runs over two-plus innings.
White Sox: How do you follow up a 15-strikeout, one-hit effort on the mound, as Chris Sale produced against the Cubs? For Sale, who takes the mound Wednesday for a 7:10 p.m. CT first pitch, it was a 14-strikeout effort Friday in Seattle. Sale needs just five strikeouts to set a personal single-season high.
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