The White Sox had every reason to think this one was slipping away. Davis Martin was tagged early, Cam Schlittler looked overpowering, and Chicago’s offense spent most of the night searching for a spark. Then the game turned into one of those wild finishes that can make a rough night feel unforgettable.
Martin’s first inning was a mess. He gave up three hits, including a three-run home run to Spencer Jones, plus a walk, and the Yankees were suddenly up 4-0.
After that, though, he settled in and gave Chicago exactly what it needed to stay alive. Over six innings, Martin allowed only three more baserunners and limited hard contact the rest of the way.
The White Sox, meanwhile, had almost nothing going against Schlittler. Chicago was retired in order in the bottom of the first on just 10 pitches, and the Yankees starter kept rolling from there. In 6.1 innings, Schlittler allowed two hits, a walk, a hit by pitch and a run while striking out eight.
That kind of quiet night has become familiar for the White Sox lately. The lineup has been stuck in a rut, and several of the club’s first-half standouts have been mired in slumps. For a while, it looked like this game would follow the same script.
Chicago’s best chance for a breakthrough came in the seventh. Munetaka Murakami drew a leadoff walk and Miguel Vargas was hit by a pitch, giving the White Sox a chance to do real damage.
Instead, Colson Montgomery popped out, Andrew Benintendi drove in a run, Braden Montgomery popped out and Tristan Peters struck out. The inning ended with the game still feeling out of reach.
Then the eighth inning changed everything. Chase Meidroth opened with a double, Edgar Quero popped out, and Sam Antonacci blasted a homer to right field. Murakami followed with a homer of his own, and just like that the White Sox had tied it in dramatic fashion.
Chicago got pushed to the edge again in the 11th after the Yankees moved ahead on a sacrifice fly. Murakami then reached third on a groundout by Miguel Vargas, and a few batters later Yankees catcher Ali Sanchez took a chance and tried to catch Murakami sleeping at third.
The ball skipped past the Yankees’ third baseman, and the tying run came home. New York still had one more out to get, but the White Sox had another opening.
They made it count in the 12th. Edgar Quero delivered the game-winning bloop single, giving Chicago the walk-off victory. It was Quero’s second walk-off hit of the season, even with his overall struggles at the plate, and it was the White Sox’s eighth walk-off win of the year.
Now Chicago turns to Thursday with a chance to split the series against New York. Sean Burke is set to face Ryan Weathers, and Burke has been on a tear over his last seven starts, posting a 1.61 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 44.2 innings.
Weathers has been far more ordinary, carrying a 4.25 ERA while striking out 122 and allowing 17 home runs. That gives the White Sox a shot to keep the bats going and finish the series on even terms.
In Other News...
Yankees Are Eyeing Another Deadline Bat Fans Will Want Explained
The Yankees are still surveying the market for help as the deadline approaches, and one name that has surfaced is a player from Washington whose value goes well beyond the box score. Joel Sherman reported New York has shown interest in a Nationals outfielder, a sign the club is looking hard at ways to add another bat while also weighing how much defense it can afford to give up in the process.
Washington, for its part, does not sound eager to move him. The Nationals have already made one notable deal, sending Curtis Mead to the Pirates for Connelly Early, but they are not listening on Luis Garcia Jr. and are working on an extension for Foster Griffin, which suggests they are not in a full sell-off mode. For the Yankees, the question is whether this pursuit is real enough to matter, or simply another reminder that they are still hunting for the right fit. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees May Have Finally Zeroed In On A Catcher Upgrade
The Yankees search for catching help appears to have moved from broad curiosity to something a little more focused, with the club checking in on several backstops as it looks for a clearer answer behind the plate. That pursuit makes sense given the way the position has lagged, and it also fits a front office that has not been shy about exploring the market when it sees a chance to upgrade.
Among the names in the mix, one stands out as the most realistic path for a deal, especially with his current club weighing a direction that could make him available. The other possibilities come with far more complications because of control, team context and how hard those clubs would be to pry loose, which is why the Yankees may be narrowing their attention even if the final fit is still not fully settled. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Deadline Idea Could Finally Address Two Problems At Once
The Yankees deadline conversation has started to circle around a pair of Mets who could help in very different ways, with Luke Weaver offering another arm for a bullpen that could use one and Tyrone Taylor bringing a steadier outfield option into the mix. Weavers appeal is obvious enough on talent alone, and Taylor has built a case as a useful all-around piece because he can handle all three outfield spots while contributing at the plate.
What makes the idea more interesting is how neatly it lines up with New Yorks needs, even if the path to getting either player is not simple. Weavers season has been split by a left hamstring strain, and Taylors status as a short-term target adds another layer to the calculus, since the Yankees would have to decide whether the fit is worth the cost in a market where every move gets scrutinized. [Read more 🡒]