The Reds and White Sox played game 2 of their 2-game series on Wednesday in Cincinnati. Game 1 was dominated by the White Sox 9-0.
The White Sox came into Wednesday afternoon’s contest with a 16-12 record for the season. Tony LaRussa’s squad is tied atop the AL Central with the Kansas City Royals. They would look to continue the momentum from Tuesday’s blowout win in game 1 with Dallas Keuchel on the mound.
The Reds came into the game with a 13-15 record for the season, which put them in 4th place in the NL Central. They would look to bounce back after the tough loss in game 1 with Sonny Gray on the mound.
Pitching Duel
Both the White Sox and the Reds have an excellent offense that ranks near the top of the MLB. The offense was not what decided game 2 of this series, though; it was the pitching. Both starters were fantastic in game 2.
Neither Keuchel nor Gray allowed a hit until the 3rd inning. Tim Anderson singled off Gray for the first hit of the ballgame in the top of the 3rd. Gray was able to retire the side with ease after the Anderson single.
Sonny Gray pitched 7 innings, allowed just 2 hits, walked 2 batters, and struck out 8. Gray was lights out and did not allow the White Sox to get anything going on offense.
The Reds were not able to mustard a hit off Keuchel until Tyler Naquin hit a single in the 5th inning. Keuchel got the next batter, Jonathan India, to ground into a double play. Then he was able to get Sonny Gray to ground out to end the inning.
Keuchel put up almost the exact same state line as Sonny Gray. He pitched 7 innings, allowed just 2 hits, walked 2 batters, and struck out 8. The only difference is Keuchel did it on 95 pitched while Gray had 90 pitches on the day.
The bullpens were able to hold the teams scoreless and take this game into extra innings.
Extra Innings
In the 10th inning, the White Sox used closing pitcher Liam Hendriks as the automatic runner on second to start the inning. White Sox manager Tony LaRussa said after the game he was unaware he could have used Jose Abreu as the automated runner instead of Hendriks. The rule states rule states the runner must be the batter preceding that inning’s leadoff hitter, but there is an exception if the runner would be the pitcher.
Lucas Sims had a rocky time on the mound for the Reds in the 10th inning. He started the inning by walking Yasmani Grandal. Then got Leury Garcia to hit into a fielder’s choice, which advanced Hendriks to 3rd while forcing Grandal out at second. Garcia was then caught stealing 2nd base for the second out. Sims ended the top half of the 10th inning by striking out Billy Hamilton.
Hendriks was on the mound for the White Sox in the bottom of the 10th. Catcher Tucker Barnhart was the automatic runner on 2nd to start the inning. Nick Senzel singled to left to advance Barnhart to 3ird. Jesse Winker then stepped up and delivered the biggest hit of the afternoon. Winker singled to shallow right, driving in Barnhart and giving the Reds the win.
The winning run in the 10th inning ended the Reds’ 18-inning scoreless streak. Liam Hendriks also earned the loss in this game, his first since signing with the White Sox.
What’s Next?
This 2-game series ended up being split as the White Sox took game 1 and the Reds won game 2.
After the walk-off win, the Reds improve their record to 14-15 on the year. They remain a half-game behind the Cubs, in fourth place, in the NL Central. They will look to keep the momentum from Wednesday’s walk-off win into their next series. The Reds will open a 3-game weekend series against the Indians in Clevland on Friday.
The loss drops the White Sox to 16-13 on the year. They are still tied atop the AL Central with the Kansas City Royals. They will open up a 3-game series against their AL Central rivals, the Kansas City Royals, on Friday.
