CHICAGO -- Grant Taylor and his fellow White Sox relievers got an earful from fans as they walked to the visiting bullpen Monday night at Wrigley Field.
It was both good and bad commentary, with the White Sox fans well represented in this exciting three-game competition. But this was different: It was rivalry-based.
“That sets the stage that this is going to be a fun series. Today as well,” Taylor said. “Day game in the middle of the week and fans showed out. Great atmosphere. It was a lot of fun.”
Losing the first two to the Cubs (74-54) in walk-off fashion didn’t exactly enhance that enjoyment. But the White Sox (66-60) fought back in Wednesday afternoon’s finale to claim a 3-0 victory. Taylor struck out two in the ninth for his seventh save, but this day really belonged to José Urquidy.
When this special team assembled for Spring Training back in February at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz, Urquidy wasn’t a number in the team’s winning equation. He wasn’t part of the organization when the Cubs and White Sox met for the first time from May 15-17, a series won by the White Sox on Edgar Quero’s walkoff homer. But Urquidy was exactly what the American League Central leaders (by 4 games) needed Wednesday afternoon before 40,086 fans.
After Sean Newcomb hurled two scoreless innings as the opener, Urquidy dominated over the next five with eight strikeouts. In fact, Urquidy had eight strikeouts of the first nine outs he recorded on just 43 pitches, working six scoreless overall on 68 pitches.
“Yeah, I was trying to compete and making quality pitches right there to the zone,” said Urquidy, who became the first White Sox pitcher with a relief outing of at least six scoreless and eight strikeouts or more since Melido Perez on June 15, 1991. “Trying to throw strikes early in the count.
“Trying to put hitters away. Trying to attack the corners with the plan we got before the game. And I think it worked. The secondary pitches, I was spinning the ball well. I think it was a little confusing for the hitters.”
Cubs manager Craig Counsell had praise for the latest surprise addition to this storied rivalry.
“He did a great job of changing speeds,” Counsell said. “I thought you could see our hitters -- although it’s not big velocity on the fastball -- when he threw a fastball, it really surprised our hitters. He had the offspeed stuff, the changeup to the righties. First-pitch breaking balls to get ahead of the righties. He just pitched really well.”
Tyrone Taylor had the lone two hits off Urquidy, including a leadoff double in the sixth. But he was quickly erased on an ill-advised tag-up from second on Pete Crow-Armstrong’s lineout to right fielder Braden Montgomery. Taylor had to retreat to the base before tagging up and Montgomery nailed him at third by six steps on a 95.1 mph throw, according to Statcast.
“As soon as it comes off the bat, you know that there's a possible play there,” said Montgomery of his laser-like throw. “So, you do your best to get the body in order and get in a good spot to be able to go through that ball and give your third baseman a good chance to get him. It's an exciting play when you're able to throw guys out. It felt great."
That’s the fastest-tracked assist by a White Sox outfielder since Oscar Colas had a 100.9 mph toss on July 23, 2023. Left fielder Sam Antonacci continued the White Sox defensive prowess opening the seventh, leaping into the vines to take away extra bases from Alex Bregman.
“Just wanted to get to the wall as fast as possible and the wind kind of brought it back a little bit and I knew it was kind of tricky with that basket,” said Antonacci of his catch. “I kind of jumped and glad I came down with it.”
These highly competitive six games finished at even 3-3 split, with each talented team winning at home and the White Sox outscoring the Cubs, 33-32. It was a playoff-like atmosphere, although certainly not exactly akin to the postseason in mid-August.
Imagine what would happen if they do meet up again one week before Halloween in the World Series, as has been talked about numerous times over the past few days.
“A lot of traffic. That’s what it’s going to be. Hopefully we don’t have to sit in that traffic,” a smiling Benintendi said. “We are just going to focus on what we can control.”
“This atmosphere is different,” Grant Taylor said. “You see it in the stands: Everyone is into it, everyone is excited. Being able to win a game at Wrigley was pretty sweet.”