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MLB: Game One-Toronto Blue Jays at Chicago White Sox
Lance Lynn put together his strongest start of the year, with 11 K’s in seven innings.
Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

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Blue Jays 6, White Sox 2 (11 innings): It was fun until it wasn’t

Lance Lynn’s strong start is wasted

By Tommy Barbee and Brett Ballantini Updated
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What started as a fantastic pitchers’ duel between Lance Lynn and José Berríos became an all-too-familiar letdown, as the White Sox could not get anything going on offense in support of their starter.

First, the good news: Lance Lynn was dealing, my friends.

Giving up only one hit in seven innings, Lynn struck out 11 and induced 25 swings-and-misses. He was in command from the jump, and more than rose to the occasion knowing the White Sox would face a formidable foe in Berríos.

Unfortunately, Berríos and the Toronto Blue Jays’ pen were just as good. Berríos allowed only one hit in seven innings, while Trevor Richards dazzled White Sox bats with his changeup and struck out four in two innings of relief.

There would be no offense until the 11th inning — when all hell broke loose.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Aaron Bummer was a bit of a bummer in this game. Despite only throwing 21 pitches, he gave up five hits for six runs (five earned) and a lone K. Yuck. To be fair to Bummer, two of those runs that scored were the fault of Bryan Shaw, who was equally ineffective in failing to put out Bummer’s fire, but the damage already was done at that point.

The White Sox made an ill-fated attempt at a rally in the bottom of the 11th, with Andrew Vaughn and Oscar Colás driving in a run each, but it was too late, and the White Sox fell again.

Now the Pale Hose will regroup and try again in the nightcap of this doubleheader, which will be underway momentarily.

Poll

Who was the MVP of the extra-innings loss in the opener?

This poll is closed

  • 100%
    Lance Lynn: 7 IP, H, BB, 11 K, .439 WPA
    (24 votes)
  • 0%
    Kendall Graveman: IP, 2 K, .135 WPA
    (0 votes)
  • 0%
    Reynaldo López: IP, BB, 3 K, .135 WPA
    (0 votes)
  • 0%
    Gregory Santos: IP, .106 WPA
    (0 votes)
  • 0%
    MATH, for the weird ties for top play and game MVP.
    (0 votes)
24 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who was the Cold Cat of the extra-innings White Sox loss in the opener?

This poll is closed

  • 69%
    Aaron Bummer: 1⁄3 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, K, -.488 WPA
    (18 votes)
  • 0%
    Jake Burger: 0-for-1, R, -.111 WPA
    (0 votes)
  • 0%
    Elvis Andrus: 1-for-4, K, CS, -.088 WPA
    (0 votes)
  • 30%
    Pedro Grifol, for ever pitching Aaron Bummer in extras (with automatic RISP), then offering a b.s. explanation for doing so
    (8 votes)
26 votes total Vote Now

Six Pack of Stats

By Brett Ballantini

Pressure Play
With runners on the corners and one out in the 11th, George Springer singled in Cavan Biggo with the first run of the game under 5.23 LI. The Blue Jays would score a bunch more, lessening the game pressure with every run. Jake Burger’s pop out to second to end the 10th inning. was the biggest pressure moment for the White Sox (4.36 LI).

Pressure Cooker
Given that Burger’s at-bat was his only of the game (although the was the Manfred Mann in the 11th and scored Chicago’s first run on Oscar Colás’ double), his 4.36 LI turns into 4.36 pLI, tops today.

Top Play
This is a strange one, as Luis Robert Jr. getting an intentional walk in the bottom of the 10th and George Springer’s RBI single in the 11th both registered .178 WPA.

Top Performer
Another bizarre tie, as both of the game’s starters, Lance Lynn and José Berríos, took top MVP honors, registering .439 WPAs. Both hurlers threw seven innings of one-hit ball, with one walk.

Hardest Hit
Oscar Colás punished his RBI double to open the Sox half of the 11th, blistering it to right field at 111.8 mph.

Weakest Contact
Andrew Benintendi trickled a grounder in the third inning that was hit at 50.4 mph, the softest non-bunt of the day.

Luckiest Hit
Through 10 innings, there weren’t many hits at all. But when it rains, it pours, and Bo Bichette had a .100 xBA single off of Aaron Bummer in the 11th. For the Sox, Gavin Sheets had a .170 xBA single in the eighth inning.

Toughest Out 
Bo Bichette was owed, though, as his .670 xBA screaming liner to right field in the ninth was gloved by Oscar Colás.

Longest Hit
No homers in this game, so George Springer’s 364-foot fly out to Luis Robert Jr. in the first inning stood up as the winner.

Magic Number: 14
Falling to 37-51, the White Sox are again a season-low 14 games worse than .500.

White Sox Game Recaps

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Six Pack of Stats

Six Pack of Stats: Diamondbacks 15, White Sox 4

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Gamethread: D’Backs at White Sox

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