We did not quite get the pitchers’ duel that many expected from Lance Lynn and Tyler Glasnow. Instead, the Rays (43-24) got out to an early lead and came out on top during a warm night in Chicago.
Lynn, who pitched for the White Sox (41-25), got off to a slow start. In the top of the first, Randy Arozarena doubled, and Austin Meadows followed with a two-run homer. That was the 15th home run of the season for Meadows, and it put the White Sox in an early hole. That deficit grew in the third inning, and once again, the Rays used the long ball to achieve that. With one out, Brandon Lowe launched his 12th home run of the season to make it 3-0.
Meanwhile, the White Sox were facing Tyler Glasnow, who has an explosive fastball that averages 97 mph (94th percentile, per Baseball Savant) and a curveball with a spin rate in the 94th percentile. Glasnow had been cruising through his first two innings of play, so a comeback did not seem even remotely in the cards. However, the third inning was a different story. Leury García sliced a one-out double down the left field line. García advanced to third on a deep fly out to right by Danny Mendick, and he scored on a wild pitch. Then, Tim Anderson doubled, and Brian Goodwin built on the fast start to his 2021 MLB season with an RBI single.
Don't stop now, boys! pic.twitter.com/f6NtcttHGR
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 15, 2021
Before the bottom of the fifth, Glasnow was removed from the game due to right elbow inflammation. As a result, the White Sox were tasked with completing their rally against a red-hot Tampa bullpen. Hopefully, Glasnow will be able to make a quick, healthy recovery.
On the other side of the ball, Lynn bounced back after the early home runs. While Lynn did not give the White Sox his usual super high-quality start, he did enough for a quality start. Thanks to his scoreless fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, the White Sox remained in serious contention. Lynn’s final line was six innings, three runs (all earned), six hits, three walks, and eight strikeouts. Lynn also displayed his competitive nature and enthusiasm, which many White Sox fans have enjoyed.
we made this G-rated gif for you and your kids pic.twitter.com/4DsMhmPoOE
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) June 15, 2021
Garrett Crochet came on in relief of Lynn, and the seventh inning went very smoothly. Crochet got a strikeout, a pop out, and a can of corn to center for a 1-2-3 inning. In the eighth, however, Crochet allowed a solo homer to Arozarena. That was the first home run allowed by Crochet in his major league career, and that gave Tampa Bay a 4-2 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth Anderson led off with an infield single, and it appeared the White Sox might be able to start a rally. However, the high hopes did not last long, as Rays reliever Diego Castillo nailed Anderson at first with an excellent pickoff move.
After that, the Rays added an insurance run in the ninth when José Ruiz failed to field a throw from José Abreu. That error prevented a 3-1 putout that would have gotten the White Sox out of the inning. In the bottom half, the White Sox went down rather easily, and the Rays held on for a 5-2 victory.
Tomorrow’s game will also start at 7:10 p.m. CST. It will be a battle between two left-handers, as Shane McClanahan and Dallas Keuchel are the probable starting pitchers. NBC Sports Chicago will televise the game, while WMVP 1000 AM and WRTO 1200 AM will have the radio coverage. Jeremy Karll will have your coverage at South Side Sox, with Chrystal O’Keefe putting an eight-game win streak on the line with the Six Pack.
Tonight’s loss broke a four-game win streak. Hopefully, the White Sox will start a new win streak tomorrow.