In an attempt to dodge the rain on Saturday, this game was rescheduled for Friday, which featured a much more favorable forecast. A few clouds rolling in Friday evening, but high 60s and dry. Looked like the White Sox and Nationals might actually beat the weather this time. The bigger question, though, was whether the White Sox would be able to handle the Nationals' hard-throwing stable of pitchers who have so far silenced some of the league's noisiest bats.
The visiting White Sox would have to face the Nationals' top arms tonight, beginning with a flame-throwing righty in the first. Eric stepped in to lead things off and battled back from 0-2 to work a walk. Tom singled to put two on with nobody out. Both Eric and Tom advanced in such a manner that can only be revealed publicly after the conclusion of the season--suffice it to say that it worked this time. Two in scoring position, then, with nobody gone in the first. Jared singled in Eric with a hard shot up the middle, and the Sox were on the board early. Tom would cross the plate on a single of the bat of Jeffrey, and the Sox were up 2-0 right out of the gates. Terrence put himself on with a single as well, but the Nationals' pitcher would zip it up after that.
Micah got the ball for the White Sox to start, and he delivered a beauty in the bottom of the first. He retired the leadoff batter with one pitch that induced a chopper to second, perfectly played by Eric and the throw on to Jeffrey at first for the out. Micah then logged two Ks to put a shut-out first in the books for the Sox. 2-0, Sox, after one.
Micah contributed on the offensive side as well with a single to get things going in the second. Drew worked a walk, but the Nationals' starter was sharp and escaped the inning unscathed.
Micah returned for the bottom of the second. The Nationals put two on, but Micah was not at all rattled. He went about business as usual. He had a great fastball working for him and he was hitting his spots. He struck out one, got another to pop up to second where Jared made a nice grab ranging in. He got the third to ground to short. Tim scooped and fired to Eric at first to put an end to the second. The Nationals were able to put two on the board and the game was all knotted up at 2 apiece after two complete.
Micah put together a solid outing for his White Sox: 3 Ks while giving up only 1 hit over two innings pitched. Most importantly, he kept his team in the game with the Nationals' ace on the mound through the first two innings. An excellent effort from the young righty!
Tom stepped in to light a spark for the Sox in the top of the third. First pitch swinging, he shot a rocket into left field for a leadoff double. He would score on a burner up the middle by Tim, the RBI machine who continues to amaze with his clutch hitting, and the Sox would regain the lead 3-2.
Tom would take the hill for the Sox in the bottom of the third and pick up right where Micah left off. He got one to ground to second where Jared gloved it and fired to Eric at first. He struck out the next and got the third to pop up to Tim at short who lined it up and hauled it in to end the inning. Still 3-2, Sox.
Will worked a walk to put himself on with nobody out in the fourth. On the first pitch to Micah, Will jumped off and waited. As soon as the catcher threw back to the mound, he took off for second. Safe! A flawlessly executed delayed steal, and the Sox had a runner in scoring position. Micah took the free pass to put two on, and then Drew worked the count full, took ball four, and loaded the bases for Eric. Eric and Tom both walked, and the Sox were up by 3.
Tom returned for the bottom of the fourth and proceeded to strike out the side. He had great stuff tonight, striking out four over the course of two shut-out innings.
The Sox would put up some insurance in the fifth. With Tim at third and one out, Micah singled for the second time tonight bringing in Tim and and putting the Sox squarely in command, 6-2.
The Sox sent Jeffrey out to close and attempt to seal up the two-inning save. Jeffrey has not seen a lot of action for the White Sox yet, but he's been pitching quite a bit this spring for his AAU team, so at this point he has easily reached mid-season form. He made a quick adjustment to the Little League pitching distance of 46' (as opposed to 50' in AAU), and made short work of the fifth inning by striking out the side with an overpowering fastball that he had in good command tonight.
Tom doubled again in the sixth, this time on a line drive to deep left, and then scored on a double to left center off the bat of Jeffrey, who scored on a single by--guess who--Tim, reliable as ever with runners in scoring position.
With the score now 8-2, Sox, Jeffrey returned to lock it up in the bottom of the sixth. He did so with three straight Ks, all looking (and wondering what hit 'em). Very efficient work by the big lefty, and an outstanding effort all around for the White Sox.
With this win, the Sox improve to 6-2 on the season and gain a share of second place, one game behind the Phillies and tied with the Astros and Mets--a tight race coming into the final week of the regular season.
Tonight's game ball was awarded to Micah, who set the tone with two brilliant innings on the mound to start and a 2-for-2 effort at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. Just doing his job, he'll tell you, but it was a particularly impressive job tonight. Congratulations, Micah!
Next, the White Sox take on the surging Mariners Sunday at Cusick. See you there!
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