NBC Sports Chicago is simulating the 2020 White Sox season via MLB The Show during the postponement of play. The White Sox, stocked with young talent and veteran offseason acquisitions, were expected to take a big step forward in their rebuild this season. Follow along as we play out the first few months of the season.
Result: White Sox def. Rays 4-2
Record: 14-21, 4th in A.L. Central (6.5 GB of Twins)
W: Evan Marshall (2-0)
L: Diego Castillo (0-3)
SV: Aaron Bummer (7)
Game Summary: After losing a three-game set to the rebuilding Orioles, the White Sox needed a bounce-back win in a major way. Dylan Cease and the Southsiders played host to the Rays and graciously gave them first dibs on runs.
MLB
In the first inning, Brandon Lowe demolished a pitch to right field that got too much of the zone. The ball travelled 421 feet into the glove of a fan who would have much preferred it to be a White Sox two-run homer. And just like that, Tampa Bay was ahead by a pair.
Meanwhile, the White Sox had trouble starting their engines on offense. It wasn’t until the fourth inning that Chicago entered the hit column. Yoan Moncada singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Yasmani Grandal, narrowing the lead to one.
A couple innings later, Tim Anderson won a battle with the right field line, landing the ball on the fair side of the chalk for a lead-off double. Jose Abreu, always the gentleman, offered Anderson a ride home to score the tying run on his single to right field.
Tuesday’s hero came in the form of a nomadic pirate who never donned a Pittsburgh tunic, Edwin Encarnacion. He and his imaginary parrot chased Moncada around the bases as Encarnacion collected his team-leading 11th homer of the season.
The White Sox avoid getting stung by the Rays, taking the series opener 4-2.
White Sox Lineup
-
Tim Anderson: 1-4, 2B, R (.286 BA)
-
Yoan Moncada: 3-4, 2B, 2 R (.264 BA)
-
Jose Abreu: 1-3, BB, RBI (.233 BA)
-
Edwin Encarnacion: 1-4, HR (11), 2 RBI, R (.303 BA)
-
Yasmani Grandal: 0-3, SF, RBI (.270 BA)
-
Eloy Jimenez: 0-2, 2 BB (.219 BA)
-
Luis Robert: 0-4 (.248 BA)
-
Nomar Mazara: 0-3 (.230 BA)
-
Nick Madrigal: 1-3 (.358 BA)
Scoring Summary
Top 1st
-
Brandon Lowe homered to right field. Jose Martinez scored. 2-0 TB.
Bottom 4th
-
Yasmani Grandal flew out to left field. Yoan Moncada scored. 2-1 TB.
Bottom 6th
-
Jose Abreu singled to right field. Tim Anderson scored. 2-2.
Bottom 8th
-
Edwin Encarnacion homered to right field. Yoan Moncada scored. 4-2 CHW.
Notable Performance: Nobody likes playing in the comfy confines of Guaranteed Rate Field more than Edwin Encarnacion this season. With his homer and 2 RBI on Tuesday, Encarnacion has now hit nine of his 11 long balls and collected 14 of his 19 RBI at home.
Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the White Sox easily on your device.