Despite excellent pitching from Jeff Samardzija (seven innings, eight hits, one unearned run, five strikeouts), the Chicago White Sox had difficulties closing out the Toronto Blue Jays as closer David Robertson suffered another blown save at the hands of Josh Donaldson.
Tasked with holding a 3-2 lead, Robertson surrendered Donaldson's 13th home run of the year (and fourth of the series), which tied the game and once again made Robertson look mortal on the mound.
Too bad for the Blue Jays that it wasn't a walk-off this time, because the White Sox bounced back to score two runs in the 10th, and Robertson made that lead stick..
It started with Jose Abreu smacking a leadoff, bat flippin' triple (his second of the year). Adam LaRoche, who was hitting .206 with runners in scoring position, laced a single to right. LaRoche was replaced by Emilio Bonifacio on the bases, and he advanced to second by tagging up on Alexei Ramirez long fly out to left field. Gordon Beckham drove Bonifacio in with a double on an 0-2, 95 mph fastball to pad the lead an extra run.
Without having to face Donaldson, Robertson was able to close out the game for his fourth win of the season, though he didn't make it look easy after allowing a single to Chris Colabello and walking Josh Thole.
Here are some more wacky plays from today's game:
- J.B. Shuck stealing second base with an awkward, yet effective slide.
Classic baseball move. pic.twitter.com/b37JtHwEXu
— South Side Sox (@SouthSideSox) May 27, 2015
- Jose Abreu's "double"
The sun is the best player on the White Sox offense. pic.twitter.com/GIPI4x8aoO
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) May 27, 2015
- Adam Eaton doing his best Moises Sierra impression after Abreu's submission for "Weirdest slide of the game."
.@AdamSpankyEaton helps a brother out after @79JoseAbreu's lead off triple in the 10th. #GoSox pic.twitter.com/KaalMs0OYs
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 27, 2015
Game Notes:
- Jose Abreu was a home run short of the cycle.
- J.B. Shuck is 7-for-18 filling in for Avisail Garcia
- Jeff Samardzija should have earned the win today, but still had a very solid month of May: 3-0, 36 IP, 34 H, 15 R, 12 ER, 3 HR, 7 BB, 32 K