The American League Central-leading Chicago White Sox keep accumulating key victories while finding different ways to win.
Chicago (75-68) enters Tuesday’s visit from the Pittsburgh Pirates after a weekend series victory against Minnesota, capped by a 10-1 rout on Sunday.
Five White Sox pitchers limited the Twins to four hits while four Chicago batters had multi-hit efforts.
“Nights like this really show what we’re capable of, as a pitching staff and as a team,” catcher Kyle Teel said.
The White Sox hold a three-game division lead over the Cleveland Guardians. With a critical series in Cleveland set to begin on Sept. 14, Chicago will play its next six games against teams still battling in a crowded National League wild-card hunt.
Production throughout the lineup guided the White Sox on Sunday. Leadoff man Sam Antonacci and No. 7 hitter Tristan Peters combined to go 6-for-9 with five doubles, five runs and three RBIs.
One of Antonacci’s three two-baggers came off a deflected grounder up the middle, illustrating the team’s aggressive approach.
“I just feel like I have a good knack for knowing when I can take that extra base and when not,” Antonacci said. “I know obviously at times I get in trouble with it a little bit, but hopefully more times than not, I’m successful at it.”
Pittsburgh (71-73) has won six of eight. The Pirates stand 5 1/2 games back of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the NL’s third and final wild-card spot.
Tuesday begins a six-game trip to Chicago that concludes with a weekend series against the Cubs, who are second in the NL wild-card race.
“Just trying to keep the line moving,” Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes said after Sunday’s 1-0 win against the Los Angeles Angels. “We played two good series here. Set ourselves up for a couple good series in Chicago, and take it one game at a time. We’re going to end up wherever we’re supposed to, as long as we play our game. So, we have a good opportunity and just got to take advantage of it.”
Ramping up their attack would help. The Pirates scored just three runs against the visiting Angels over the weekend but still won two of three.
Henry Davis delivered a solo home run in the third inning to propel Pittsburgh on Sunday. Brandon Lowe, who is batting .364 in September, singled twice for the team’s only other hits.
“If we can go 1-0 every day and win 1-0, our hearts might be racing a little bit faster,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “But we’ll take it.”
Right-hander Bubba Chandler (6-9, 4.30 ERA) is set to start for Pittsburgh. Chandler is 3-1 with a 3.82 ERA in his past seven starts. He is coming off Wednesday’s no-decision against San Francisco, when he spaced three runs and five hits in five innings with three walks and four strikeouts. The Pirates lost 5-4 in 10 innings.
Fellow right-hander Sean Burke (8-6, 3.20) gets the call for the White Sox. Burke delivered 5 2/3 innings of one-hit ball in a 5-1 at Houston on Tuesday to earn his first victory since July 19. He walked four and struck out six while stopping a string of five straight starts in which he had yielded a home run.
It will be the career debut for both pitchers against their opponents.
–Field Level Media
