Game #83: Athletics Easy Prey for the White Sox

After sweeping the White Sox in the last matchup on the road, this was not destined to be a repeat performance from the start. Jharel Cotton struggled with control and the Sox bats manufactured many runs to defeat the A's 7-3.

To begin, Todd Frazier doubled down the right field line in the second inning to start the scoring bid. On a wild pitch by Cotton he advanced to 3rd. Tim Anderson followed with a strange hopping shot past Barreto to score Frazier and put the White Sox up 1-0.

The Athletics made their own noise in the second as Josh Phegley took a double down the left field line with two outs. Having some sort of difficulty with the mound, White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon walked Franklin Barreto. Showing signs of frustration, he then walked Matt Joyce. This led to a second mound visit for the inning which did little to help the Sox. A's Adam Rosales poked a 2 RBI single into right field. With Joyce on third and Rosie on first and two outs, Rajai Davis struck out. A's 2, Sox 1.

Unfortunately the game broke loose a bit in the 3rd. Adam Engel walked. Rosales moved to cover a potential throw on a steal and Melky Cabrera knocked it passed him to his left to get on with an E-6. Runners on first and third, Aubrey popped out to second. Todd Frazier, with his second double on the night scored Engel and Cabrera. Matt Davidson then doubled to score Frazier and put the Sox up 4-2, ended only because Davidson was caught stealing third as ball four was called on Volmer Sanchez.

In the 6th, Liam Hendriks replaced Cotton. With an unbelievably tight strike zone, Hendriks gave up a base hit and two walks that legitimately could have been "looking strikeouts," but was able to end the inning by getting Melky Cabrera to fly out to Rajai Davis in center. A tough inning for Hendriks who used 26 pitches to finish off the side.

Lowrie, after a Matt Chapman strikeout, singled in the bottom of the 6th. Rodon was able to sit down Khir's Davis on a watching called strike that was up in the zone that Hendriks couldn't get a call on. With two outs Alonso singled but that was it for the A's in the 6th.

The 7th was a bit tense as Abreu singled to start the inning. Frazier was then hit by a pitch on what was accidentally a shot to his shoulder. No outs and two runners on was quickly handled as Davidson lined to right and Yolmer Sanchez hit into a 1-6-3 double play to end the half inning. The A's didn't do much better, as Anthony Swarzak replaced Carlos Robson. Two runners were left stranded as Matt Chapman ended the A's offensive with a strikeout.

Brady remained in the game for the eighth inning. Adam Rosales began by committing his second error of the game. Anderson was safe at first. On a sacrifice bunt by Smith, Anderson advanced. Willy Garcia than doubled and Adam Engel singled on a bunt that should have been an error on Josh Phegley. Willy Garcia then doubled for his second double of the night to score Anderson. Melky Cabrera followed suit with a double to score Garcia. Brady then retired the next two batters but the damage was done: Sox 6 and Athletics 2. In the ninth this became even worse as Axford walked in a run to make it 7-2.

All told, Cotton, who earned the loss tonight, gave up 4 earned runs in five innings with two walks and 5 strikeouts. Rodon went 6 innings with 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks and 10 strikeouts to capture the win.