White Sox fall to Padres, 3-1

Let’s focus on the good things that came out of today’s 3-1 loss to the San Diego Padres.

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Oh, oh yeah, OK, good things.

Well, Dallas Keuchel wasn’t razor-sharp, but he was pretty bad-ass, going four innings, scattering six hits (one run) with a strikeout. He bore a striking resemblance to the the sort of sheer-will effort that characterized Mark Buehrle’s years on the South Side:

But then, there was the offense. The White Sox looked a lot like previous seasons today, and I don’t have to tell you that’s a bad thing. Not many Ks (seven), but a real lack of clutch hitting. Nowhere was that more apparent with the White Sox down 3-1 the ninth.

Adam Engel got things started with a crazy-crazy whiff/wild pitch sequence that landed him on second base on a dropped third strike. Pitcher Evan Miller, clearly fighting himself, then walked Carlos Perez. Luis González, having a hell of an audition with the big club, singled Engel in and pushed Perez to third. And finally, with none out, the sacks got packed when Andrew Romine laid down a tasty bunt that Miller could not retire him on.

From there? Cheslor Cuthbert whiffed, but the tying runs were still on, with Danny Mendick stepping to the plate. Mendick ... well, Mendick tried to pull a breaking pitch and wormburned this:

Ouch, those Padres announcers are a little rough.

Aaron Bummer and Kelvin Herrera were both Really Good out of the pen (an inning and a K apiece), Biceps Cordero pitched the ninth and gave up a hit and an earned run, and Alex Colomé should have pitched the ninth, because he took the sixth and fairly well sucked (three hits, earned run, K).

But let’s end on a nice note, with some defense, because the White Sox had some highlights. Let’s start with a hilarious “no-look” assist from right fielder Daniel Palka:

Engel, acting like a Wise guy:

And perhaps best of all, Leury García looking pretty comfortable at second base:

The White Sox host Oakland tomorrow at 2:05 CT, with Reynaldo López making his Cactus League debut for the White Sox. Hopefully, he won’t get rained out again this time. Hamster has your SSS coverage, and Darren Black takes a stab at stuff at SSHP.