Cleveland 5, White Sox 0: Shut out on the South Side

Yeah, it was a frustrating game on the South Side on all aspects.

The Chicago White Sox lost to the Cleveland Baseball Team today, 5-0, and get shut out for the second time this year to it — and worse, at home. This loss dropped Chicago’s record to 15-12. Not many exciting things happened on offense for the team ... and, well, not many exciting things happened at all, actually.

Lucas Giolito was back on the mound, and started off the first inning strong other than allowing a two-out double to who other than ... José Ramírez. Giolito was able to get out of the inning without any damage.

Zach Plesac was back on the mound to face the White Sox for the third time this year (yes, it’s May 2). The inning started off with some disappointing news for fans, as Luis Robert had to be helped off of the field after beating out an infield single.

Fans anxiously awaited any news from the team after it happened. Much speculations was made about how long Robert may be out, and what could have possibly happened. After a half-hour or so, the team announced that Robert suffered a right hip flexor strain and will be reevaluated tomorrow. Postgame, Tony La Russa stated that he will definitely be making a trip to the IL, but it is still unknown as to how long he will be on it and when he will return. For the time being, Luis González will be called up from Schaumburg to fill Robert’s spot on the roster. Also, Adam Engel will continue rehabbing, but the team will not rush his return in response to another outfielder injury.

Giolito allowed a single to Amed Rosario in the second inning, but nothing else. In the third, he gave up a solo homer on a carrying ball to center field by Cesar Hernández to make it 1-0, Cleveland. In the bottom of the third, the White Sox had a big chance to get on the board and possibly take the lead with two outs. After two walks to Adam Eaton and Yoán Moncada, José Abreu was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Unfortunately, Plesac was able to strike out the fifth man in the lineup, Jake Lamb, to strand the runners.

Giolito allowed a triple to Rosario in the top of the fourth inning, which led to Jake Bauers driving him in after a miscommunication on a fly ball by Tim Anderson and Moncada. We will save you the replay on that one.

At this point, Giolito was having a shaky start and it was a little bit of a cause for panic, but the ace was able to clean it up and hold Cleveland’s lead to just 2-0. Giolito was pulled in the sixth inning with one out after walking Bauers, but had a solid day overall, allowing just one earned run and striking out eight against five hits. José Ruiz took over and got the final two outs of the inning.

Plesac had a great day, replaced by Bryan Shaw after 5 ²⁄₃ scoreless innings. Plesac allowed just three hits, no runs, and also struck out six.

In the top of the seventh inning, Codi Heuer replaced Ruiz and allowed a leadoff single to Hernández, which led to a Ramírez home run to make it 4-0. I’m sure at this point we’re all thinking the same thing: Get Ramírez out of the AL Central. For some reason, he loves to torment the White Sox, and Cleveland tends to succeed when he does. Eddie Rosario singled and advanced to second on a fly ball, followed by Amed Rosario singling to drive him in and make it 5-0.

Shaw continued the game for Cleveland and threw a 1-2-3 seventh inning. Liam Hendriks made an appearance in the eighth, and recorded two strikeouts and a ground out. Matt Foster made an appearance in the ninth and recorded a strikeout and a double play after Ramírez was hit by a pitch.

Cleveland’s closer, Emmanuel Clase, came in to close it out in the ninth and did just that. One positive thing is that he did allow a single to Andrew Vaughn, who seems to be proving himself more and more each day. Hopefully he will get more consistent playing time in left field in games to come. Other than that, this was a quiet game for the White Sox offense, which couldn’t get the job done today for their home crowd.

The team will have an off-day tomorrow before going to Cincinnati to play two interleague games, on Tuesday and Wednesday. The lineup will be quite different than what we are used to, considering Yermín Mercedes will be out of the DH spot and the starting pitcher will make multiple appearances at the plate in his place.

Speaking of starting pitchers, Dylan Cease will start the first game of the series — according to Chuck Garfien, Cease hit multiple home runs in batting practice earlier today. There was no video proof, so it does sound quite fishy, but hey, maybe Cease can provide some much-needed offense if nobody else can get it going.

Enjoy the off-day and we will be back in action at Great American Ball Park on Tuesday at 5:40 p.m. CT. Tommy Barbee will have your SSS coverage, with Joe Resis on the Six Pack.