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The Chicago White Sox have done well against Detroit Tigers starter Matt Boyd. In his career, Boyd's eight starts against the South Siders have gone poorly with a 6.13 ERA in just 39.2 innings. Most of that damage has taken place this 2017 season where the White Sox have scored 16 runs in 20 innings against Boyd. With an offense that scored 69 runs in their past eight games, it appeared everything had lined up for the White Sox for another good afternoon.
So, of course, Boyd carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning when Tim Anderson broke it up with a two-out double. While the White Sox couldn't time Boyd's changeup, the Tigers feasted on Dylan Covey, Chris Beck, and Mike Pelfrey pitching to win a laugher, 12-0.
The only inning Detroit didn't score a run was the seventh. Former Chicago Cubs prospect, Jeimer Candelario, was 3-for-3 with four runs batted in with three of those coming off a home run in the eighth inning. Nicholas Castellanos was 2-for-5 with his 23rd home run of 2017 off Chris Beck in the sixth. Just for good measure, Mikie Mahtook also took Beck deep in the fifth inning.
Covey started the game, and after showing some positive signs in his last start recovering from a first-inning grand slam against Kansas City, Detroit didn't have too much difficulty figuring him out. Only lasted 3.2 innings, Covey allowed five earned runs on seven hits with four walks and three strikeouts. On the season, Covey's ERA is now 8.28 with a 0-6 record.
Today's star was Boyd, who completed the game only allowing the one hit to Tim Anderson, one walk to Rob Brantly, and striking out five. Using MLB's StatCast data, Boyd only had two at-bats where the Hit Probability was higher than 50%.
- First Inning: Jose Abreu, 81% HP, flyout to right center.
- Fifth Inning: Matt Davidson, 81% HP, line out to left field.
Anderson's double only had a Hit Probability of 29%. If only Tigers Manager, Brad Ausmus, made a defensive substitution for Castellanos. Perhaps Boyd would have gotten the Tigers first no-hitter since Justin Verlander in 2011. Boyd improves to 6-10 on the season with a 5.33 ERA.
With the loss, Chicago is still two games behind Detroit for last-place in the American League Central, and third worst record in baseball.
Record: 60-89 | Box Score