Pirates beat White Sox 3-2

The Chicago White Sox surprisingly got out to an early lead in today’s 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Leury Garcia hit a solo shot in the second inning over the right-center field wall. It was the first time the Sox scored first in a game since May 9.

The lead did not last for a full inning. The Pirates came storming back with two in the bottom-half of the inning. Sean Rodriguez doubled home two to take the one-run lead.

White Sox starting pitcher Hector Santiago settled down nicely after that, not giving up a run the rest of his five innings of work.

Yolmer Sanchez tied the game with a solo shot to right field. Sanchez also made an incredible, over-the-shoulder grab in shallow left field.

Santiago could have gone deeper in the game, but his spot was due up in the top of the sixth. Daniel Palka pinch-hit with the bases loaded and drew a 3-1 count, but grounded out softly to end the threat. Terribly frustrating.

Joakim Soria ran into some trouble in the seventh, giving up a soft RBI single to pinch-hitter Josh Bell. That would be enough to seal the Pirates’ victory.

Jace Fry and Nate Jones looked good, though — I’m trying to find some positives, man. Fry has not given up a hit through his six innings of work this season. The nice thing about Fry is that he throws strikes. He gave up a walk today, but has only one other base-on-balls this year.

The Sox did hit the daylights out of the ball in the ninth. Tim Anderson got a fastball on the first pitch and laced it to center, but Adam Frazier tracked it down. Yoan Moncada followed with a line out to center of his own.

The White Sox host the Texas Rangers tomorrow night with James Shields on the bump.