New York Yankees 1 — Chicago White Sox 3
With aces on the mound, the Yankees lose tonight 3-1 to the Chicago White Sox.
The Yankees and the White Sox sent their aces to the mound tonight in Hiroki Kuroda and Chris Sale. Besides being two of the better pitchers in the league, they also have another thing in common, minimal run support.
The Yankees got the first run but it was in an unusual way. After Brett Gardner walked to lead off the game, Alfonso Soriano reached on a force at second. Soriano would get himself into scoring position when he steals second base. Then, during the continuation of Alex Rodriguez’s at-bat, Chris Sale would throw a wild pitch that hits home plate umpire Alan Porter in the foot, deflecting it down the third base line. Catcher Josh Phegley had no idea where the ball is and Alfonso Soriano would score from second base on the wild pitch.
Yes, scored from second base. The Yankees also scored the only run in the inning without a hit.
In the third inning, the Yankees should have had their second run of the game. With one out, Brett Gardner would get on base with another walk. He would move to second with two outs after Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pitch. Robinson Cano hit a single to left field and Brett Gardner would attempt to score on the play. Left fielder Alejandro De Aza would throw home and Brett Gardner chose to run through and attempt to beat the throw. He would appear to beat the tag by inches but home plate umpire Alan Porter called Gardner out. The missed call would turn out to be big.
The White Sox scored in the fourth inning with a single after getting a runner in scoring position. The Yankees had a chance to reclaim the lead in the fifth inning. Austin Romine started the inning with a single. After one out, Alfonso Soriano would hit a single too. Alex Rodriguez would hit a fly ball to center but Robinson Cano would walk. With the bases loaded, Vernon Wells chose to swing at the first pitch following the walk and grounded out, ending a chance at scoring.
In the sixth inning, the Yankees were inches away from getting out with the game still tied. With one out and runners on the corners, Hiroki Kuroda needed a double play. With Adam Dunn at first base and Paul Konerko at the plate, a double play was a good possibility. Kuroda induced a ground ball but it was to the right of Nix at third base who made a great effort to complete the double play but Konerko just beat the throw to first base and the White Sox took the lead.
The seventh inning for the White Sox would start with a double to deep left center field. With a runner in scoring position, Hiroki Kuroda got better, striking out the next two batters he faced. Alejandro De Aza gave Kuroda a battle for the last out but Kuroda could not put him away. De Aza would hit a double to right field and the White Sox had an insurance run.
The Yankees put together an attempt at a rally in the eighth inning. Alex Rodriguez hit a single to center field and after Sale got Robinson Cano out, Chris Sale’s night ended. With the left-handed Chris Sale out and the power right-handed reliever Nate Jones in, the left-handed bats would come off the bench. Curtis Granderson would pinch hit for Vernon Wells. After fastballs at 100 mph, Curtis Granderson would be caught looking at an 89 mph slider to strike out. For Jayson Nix, Lyle Overbay would come in. He would be overpowered with a 100 mph fastball that he chased out of the zone to end the inning.
In the ninth inning, Ichiro Suzuki would pinch hit with one out. Austin Romine would go down on three strikes but Brett Gardner would bring home Ichiro with a single to right field. With Gardner on base as the tying run, Alfonso Soriano would go down swinging through a 92 mph fastball.
Win – Chris Sale (7-11)
Loss – Hiroki Kuroda (10-7)
Save – Addison Reed (27)
Notables
Yankees
*Alfonso Soriano – 1 for 5, R
*Brett Gardner – 1 for 3, 2 BB, RBI (36)
White Sox
*Alejandro De Aza – 2 for 4, 2B, RBI (46)
*Conor Gillaspie – 1 for 4, RBI (26)
Current Yankees Record: 57-55
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