Reds 1, White Sox 0 (10 innings): A Duel in Cincy Leads to a Lesson Learned
Keuchel was fantastic in the loss, La Russa learns about the extra-innings rule
It was a pitchers’ duel in Cincinnati.
Sonny Gray and Dallas Keuchel each pitched seven innings of shutout ball — allowing only two hits apiece. Keuchel found a good rhythm after getting into trouble in the first inning. With runners on second and third in the bottom of the inning, Keuchel forced the next two Reds’ batters to ground into a force out at home, and then a double play.
He struck out one in the seventh inning, and walked three with one hit by pitch on Joey Votto’s hand (Keuchel’s pitch fractured Votto’s thumb, forcing the first baseman to miss the next month). Keuchel’s performance was truly the best of his year, lowering his ERA to 3.79 on the year.
Michael Kopech came in for 1 2/3 innings. He had four strikeouts and four walks. Liam Hendriks finished the last out in the ninth inning and earned the loss in the 10th. The White Sox pitching staff relied heavily on the defense to show up, and they did. Besides an error by Leury Garcia in the bottom of the ninth inning, the defense and starting pitching wasn’t anything to worry about.
love how Pito dives... then immediately gets up and looks for someone to chuck the ball at pic.twitter.com/qSH6Z0ySmV
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) May 5, 2021
The offense on the other hand...
Sonny Gray dominated the White Sox with eight strikeouts and two walks. And, after a 9-0 win the night before, you’d expect more than just two hits. At least give the fans some residual bloopers.
Besides Tim Anderson and Nick Madrigal, the team didn’t record any hits. Surprisingly, an offense as potent as the White Sox’s couldn’t score any runs off of Cincinnati’s struggling bullpen. Even with the extra innings “man on second” rule, the Sox just couldn’t pull the trigger.
Hendriks started the top of the 10th inning on second base, but wouldn’t make it past third after a Billy Hamilton strikeout to end the inning — leaving many fans wondering why Garcia and Hamilton are put in a position that could ultimately determine the outcome of the game.
Tucker Barnhart started on second base for Cincinnati. Nick Senzel singled off of Hendriks in the bottom of the 10th inning, placing runners on first and third with no outs. Jesse Winker placed the final blow of the game into centerfield, scoring Barnhart and winning the game for the Reds.
Speaking of Hendriks on second...
It seems it’s taking a little bit of time for Tony La Russa to get familiar with the new rules after being away from the dugout for over a decade. Many were questioning why Hendriks was on base instead of Jose Abreu. La Russa admitted postgame that he and his staff were unaware of Major League Baseball’s rule regarding runners on second in extra innings.
Here’s what the rule states: “If the player in the batting order immediately preceding that half-inning’s leadoff hitter is the pitcher, the runner placed on second base at the start of that half-inning may be the player preceding the pitcher in the batting order. Any runner or batter removed from the game for a substitute shall be ineligible to return to the game, as is the case in all circumstances under the OBR.”
La Russa would be informed by The Athletic’s White Sox reporter, James Fegan, in the postgame press conference.
Tony La Russa did not know that he could have used Jose Abreu at second base as the free runner instead of closer Liam Hendriks. Was informed of an amendment to rule by @JRFegan. "I'm guessing you know the rules better. Now I know," he said.
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) May 5, 2021
Tonight’s as good a night as any other for the team to sit down and go over the rule book.
The White Sox are back at it Friday to battle for first place against the division rival, Kansas City Royals. Carlos Rodon is expected to start. Colleen Sullivan has recap duty.