Davis Martin’s afternoon ended early, and then the White Sox’ day unraveled with it.
The Chicago right-hander was on the mound Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds on three days’ rest, a setup forced by the rain delay that cut his previous outing to just one inning. This time, the game itself was moved up an hour because of the forecast. But Martin’s latest short start had nothing to do with weather.
In the third inning, he threw a 1-1 fastball that clipped the bill of Sal Stewart’s batting helmet. It was the second straight pitch that came up around Stewart’s head, and it was also the second hitter Martin had hit in the game. After the umpires gathered, Martin was ejected.
That sent Chicago right back into emergency mode.
The White Sox had already lost Martin four days earlier after just one inning, and two days before that they were forced to pull their starter in the first inning when manager Will Venable accidentally made a second mound visit. Thursday’s ejection only added to the mess.
Venable then went to Erick Fedde, who had been lined up to start Friday. Fedde gave up four runs in three innings, and a White Sox lead quickly disappeared into a deep hole.
Stewart reacted immediately after the pitch, pointing his bat toward Martin and then holding up two fingers. The pitch before had sailed over his head.
As Stewart moved toward the mound, both benches emptied in a slow, uneasy drift. Nothing further came of it.
Venable challenged umpire Alan Porter’s decision to eject Martin, viewing it as a quick hook. The tension had already started earlier in the game, when Stewart hit his 26th home run in the first inning and Cincinnati catcher Tyler Stephenson was later hit on the upper back by a curveball. No warnings had been issued before Martin hit Stephenson.
In Other News...
Justin Ishbias Stadium Push Just Cleared A Crucial White Sox Hurdle
A long-discussed South Loop redevelopment plan took a concrete step forward this week when Amtrak received two federal grants to help fund a new maintenance facility in Bridgeport. Construction is expected to start this fall and take about 18 months, and the project fits into a broader effort tied to Canal Edge, the Justin Ishbia-linked company that has been working on a path toward moving rail operations out of the way of future development.
For the White Sox, the significance is in what this could unlock. Clearing space around the 14th Street rail yard has long been one of the key hurdles in the neighborhoods stadium chatter, along with broader improvements to nearby viaducts and other redevelopment plans around the South Loop. Ishbia is also reportedly pursuing additional land from BNSF to support the larger mix of projects, keeping the focus on how much ground still has to be assembled before any bigger baseball vision can move from concept to reality. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Suddenly Need Rotation Help As New Arm Gets A Shot
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Urquidy is the name that stands out in the group, especially after the White Sox brought him in from the Pirates before the Trade Deadline. Chicago has been looking for any kind of reliable answer on the mound, and this turn of the roster gives Urquidy another chance to show whether he can give the staff some much-needed length while Martin works his way back. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Catcher Move Could Give Them An Edge Vs Tigers
The White Sox turned to the waiver wire to shore up a catching spot that has been thinned by injuries and uneven production, claiming Eric Haase as the roster starts to take shape again. Haase brings a reputation for steady defense more than much help at the plate, but Chicago has clearly been looking for stability behind the dish while Kyle Teel works his way back from injury and the club sorts out its next move.
The timing is notable with a series against the Tigers coming up, especially with Haase having spent time in Detroit earlier in his career. Chicago is weighing further roster adjustments, and the added catching depth could give the staff a little more flexibility as the White Sox try to navigate both the injury picture and a division matchup that always carries a little extra edge. [Read more 🡒]