Chicago White Sox defeat Boston Red Sox 3-1 – MLB Update
The Chicago White Sox prevailed in their tough encounter against the Boston Red Sox 3-1 after a blockbuster at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago on Friday, July 29.
White Sox continued with their good run of form after the All-Star break. They have lost just four out of their 12 post All-Star break games and just one of their previous five. White Sox have recovered well from 44-48 at one stage to 52-52 now. They are
now just .5 games behind second-placed Cleveland Indians in the American League Central Division and three games behind leaders Detroit Tigers. A few good games on the trot can turnaround what has been an uneven season for the White Sox.
Red Sox opened the scoring for the game in style with a Jarrod Saltalamacchia home-run which distanced 404 feet at the top of the third inning. This later became the sole scoring effort by a strong Red Sox bull-pen which leads the Majors in score statistics.
With 571 runs thus far in the season and a team batting average of .280, the Red Sox batting line-up is ranked the best in Major League Baseball.
The Red Sox were not allowed any other scoring opportunity courtesy an excellent spell of flawless pitching by White Sox starter Gavin Floyd. After conceding a home-run early in the game, Floyd kept his focus intact and made a strong comeback, going for
just three hits and the sole homer in his seven innings at the mound. His six strike-outs in the game brought his season tally to just four shy of a 100. Floyd finished the game victorious, registering his ninth win of the season with the number of losses
equating wins.
Floyd’s opponent, Tim Wakefield, could not replicate his counterpart’s performance at the mound. Wakefield was precise for the first five innings but the sixth and seventh inning produced three runs for the White Sox which gave them a decisive two-run lead.
The lead was never to be recovered by the Red Sox who have been phenomenal throughout the season.
Juan Pierre scored the first run for the White Sox in the sixth inning and brought the score to 1-1 before a two-run homer by A.J. Pierzynski in the eighth inning gave a two-run advantage to the home side.
Red Sox first baseman and league-best batter Adrian Gonzalez could not play in the game due to a stiff neck and that could be cited as a major reason for this lack-lustre performance.
Boston has not lost a series after the All-Star break and this was their fifth loss in 14 games in that stretch, second on the trot. They have not faced two consecutive losses for a long time and it will be interesting to see how Boston recovers from this
situation.
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