Gamethread: White Sox at Twins

The White Sox aren’t playing stellar baseball right now. Poor pitching performances and injury woes have kept the Sox from playing at their full potential. But if there was a play to fire this team up for the last four games before the All-Star break, it would be center fielder Billy Hamilton’s catch during the ninth inning in last night’s win against the Minnesota Twins.

Hamilton pulled out the red Superman cape while dashing 28 yards across center field — flying to meet the ball in mid-air. It was the best catch of the first half in all of Major League Baseball. Even his teammates were baffled at how Hamilton caught that ball. “I have no idea, to be honest with you,” Hamilton remarked to reporters after the game. “It was one of those plays where you think you have a chance and you just want to go out there and do what you can to make that play.” Pitching coach Ethan Katz tweeted that it was the “best catch I have ever seen in person!!!!”

Carlos Rodón also had a solid outing to stop Chicago’s three-game skid and collecting the team's 50^th win of the season. Liam Hendriks also tacked on another save, totaling 22 on the season so far. He currently leads the American League in saves. The energy and bulldog attitude is what this team needs heading into the break.

And, who better to finish this series off on the mound than the bulldog and “big bastard” himself, Lance Lynn.

The righthander is 8-3, with a 2.02 ERA, and 99 strikeouts. In his last game against the Detroit Tigers, he went six innings pitched, gave up four hits, one earned run, and struck out nine. Lynn has become a South Side favorite over the first half of the season and he himself has said the South Side feels “a bit more of a home feeling than any other place he’s played.” Lynn, Hendriks, and Rodón were all selected to be pitchers in this year’s All-Star game.

Chicago’s lineup features a lot of young studs. Gavin Sheets is playing first base and hitting in the No. 2 spot. José Abreu follows as the designated hitter. Adam Engel returns to center field from the injured list. One name noticeably absent from the lineup is outfielder Adam Eaton — who was designated for assignment this morning.

Here’s the White Sox lineup:

Michael Pineda will get the start for the Twins. On the season, he is 3-4 with a 3.70 ERA and 51 strikeouts. The Twins’ righthander has been out since mid-June with right forearm inflammation. The last time Pineda pitched against the White Sox was May 13, allowing three runs while walking three in 5.1 innings.

Here’s what the Twins lineup looks like:

The game starts at 12:10 p.m. CT. Jason Benetti and Steve Stone call the game for NBCSC. Len Kasper and Darrin Jackson will have coverage on ESPN 1000.

So sit back, relax, and watch Lance Lynn joyously express himself while coming off the mound!