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MLB: Tampa Bay Rays at Chicago White Sox

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Rays 3, White Sox 2: It’s the same old song

At least Giolito was good

By Tommy Barbee Updated
/ new
Lucas Giolito was very good tonight for the White Sox.
| Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Stop me if you’ve heard this before:

Pedro Grifol gets tossed.
Jake Burger homers.
Kendall Graveman gives up a homer.
White Sox lose.

The score was different, and the game felt different, but the result was the same, and the Sox have now lost nine games in a row.

How did the game feel different? For one, Lucas Giolito came out with one of his best starts, with more than six strong innings of work and six strikeouts. More importantly, he limited damage to a meager two runs to keep the Sox in the game.

Also, in addition to the expected Jake Burger power display, Andrew Vaughn had a good game, going 2-for-4 with a homer and a walk.

But still, these White Sox have a win-loss record of 7-20 for a reason.

Yes, despite having multiple opportunities to put the Rays away — including loading the bases and having the winning run in scoring position in the ninth after knocking out Rays closer Pete Fairbanks — the Sox never capitalized. They were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Graveman, despite the two angry strikeouts that followed, took the loss for throwing a feeble, sinking fastball that didn’t sink up-and-in to Isaac Paredes. Unsurprisingly, that “sinker” was deposited into the bleachers for what ended up being the winning run.

Jake Burger tried his best to provide some late-game heroics, but Randy Arozarena had other plans.

Like Maxwell Smart, Burger— and the White Sox — missed it by that much, and find themselves in an ever-deepening hole.

While appreciated, the newfound fire of Pedro Grifol — who may be just tired of watching the team at this point — didn’t seem to have a lasting impact on the team.

Likewise, while there were no errors, the near-misses of collisions in the outfield were enough to make any fan uncomfortable.

Lastly, the bottom of the White Sox order, combined with the continued ineffectiveness of Luis Robert Jr., made it that much easier for the Rays pitchers to feast on this woeful offense.

The White Sox will try it again tomorrow night at 6:10 p.m. Central on NBC Sports Chicago. Maybe this time, if they don’t change the tune, they will at least bother with a key change.

Poll

Who was the White Sox MVP in Friday’s 3-2 loss?

This poll is closed

  • 4%
    Reynaldo López: 1 1⁄3 IP, zeroes ... .176 WPA
    (2 votes)
  • 60%
    Lucas Giolito: 6 2⁄3 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 6 K, .135 WPA
    (30 votes)
  • 36%
    Jake Burger: 2-for-4, HR, R, RBI, .106 WPA
    (18 votes)
  • 0%
    Andrew Vaughn: 2-for-4, HR, R, RBI, BB, 2 K, LOB, .072 WPA
    (0 votes)
50 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Another loss, another Cold Cat. Who was it on Friday night?

This poll is closed

  • 16%
    Kendall Graveman: IP, H, ER, 2 K, HR, -.305 WPA
    (10 votes)
  • 38%
    Luis Robert Jr.: 0-for-4, HBP, 4 LOB, -.240 WPA
    (23 votes)
  • 3%
    Lenyn Sosa: 0-for-3, K, 4 LOB, -.151 WPA
    (2 votes)
  • 41%
    White Sox "clutch": 0-for-9 RISP, 10 LOB
    (25 votes)
60 votes total Vote Now

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