Tag: Chicago White Sox

A’s Drop Fourth In A Row 3-2

By Barbara Mason

The Chicago White Sox Luis Robert hits a for an RBI single in the fourth inning against Oakland A’s pitcher Paul Blackburn at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago on Wed Aug 18, 2021 (AP News photo)

Wednesday night the Oakland A’s took on the Chicago White Sox in Game Three of their series. The team was still reeling after the horrible accident that Chris Bassitt suffered last night in Game Two.

The good news today for Bassitt was that there was no further head injuries, no concussion and no damage to his vision. He did suffer some nasty lacerations that required stitches and will reguire surgery for a displaced tripod cheek fracture. More than likely a six week or beyond layoff. It was such a shame for the all-star pitcher who was having one heck of a season.

There was a sigh of relief for all involved with the news. This hit looked so very serious and it was a surprise that he did not suffer more damage. The loss of blood alone was hard to watch as team mates gathered around him. Just a terrible moment for Oakland. The 9-0 loss was not a surprise after what had happened in the second inning of that game.

The A’s were back for Game Three on Wednesday and hoping for a bounce back after losing the first two games of the series.

The A’s started hitting from the first inning. They actually had runners on first and third with no outs and came away empty. In the third inning they had the bases loaded with no outs and not a single run. They cannot do this especially against a team the caliber of the White Sox, Chicago took the lead in the first inning 1-0 and in the fourth inning Seth Brown homered to tie up the game 1-1.

The tie did not last very long and Chicago took back the lead 2-1 in the fourth inning off a Luis Robert single which drove in Yoan Moncada.

Going into the sixth inning the score remained 2-1. The White Sox would extend their lead in the sixth 3-1 when again Robert singled and Moncada scored.

Oakland continued to threaten the Chicago lead in the seventh inning. Marte hit a sacrifice bringing Elvis Andrus home: the White Sox still leading 3-2.

Again in the eighth inning the A’s had two runners on base with one out and came up empty. This was three innings that Oakland had some great scoring opportunities and failed to take advantage of them.

The A’s could not do anything in the ninth inning and fell to the White Sox 3-2. They have now lost four in a row and tomorrow they hope to salvage one game in the series and avoid the sweep.

The loss today was an offensive loss. You cannot have the bases loaded and come away empty. Oakland had runners on first and third with no outs in the first inning and again nothing. This is not winning baseball and the A’s have to figure out a way to get these runners home.

Oakland starting pitcher Paul Blackburn had a nice game on the mound for Oakland He went 6 innings and had a pretty good day. With some production on the offensive side Blackburn might have come away with a win in this series.

Tomorrow the A’s will play Game Four in the series. First pitch is scheduled for 11:10 AM. Cole Irvin will be on the mound for Oakland and Dylan Cease will start for Chicago.

Oakland A’s pitcher Chris Bassitt follows through on his first inning delivery against the Chicago White Sox on Tue Aug 17, 2021 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago. Bassitt later would be hit in the head by a line drive by Brian Goodwin. The latest word is Bassitt is conscious and x-rays performed will determined if there were fractures from the line drive. (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s had their ace, Chris Bassitt, on the mound as they tried to even the series with the White Sox at one apiece Tuesday night in Chicago. Bassitt, leading the American League in wins, ran into a little bit of a jam in the second inning.

He gave up singles to the first two batters he faced. The third hitter, Brian Goodwin, sent Bassitt’s pitch right back at him. The ball was traveling at 100 miles per hour. Bassitt tried to defend himself, but the ball hit him in the face. He dropped to the ground in obvious pain. The team trainer ran out and gave him a towel to stop the bleeding.

Bassitt was placed on a cart and taken to the hospital. The A’s announced that Bassitt was conscious and aware. The most important thing on everyone’s mind is his health. Former A’s manager and current White Sox skipper, Tony La Russa, said, “I hope he caught a break and is OK.” A’s manager Bob Melvin in a very brief press conference, said this: “we don’t think the eye is the problem. We will know about potential fractures tomorrow.”

In all the years that this writer has been following baseball, I have witnessed three other pitchers being hit in the head by a line drive. In 1957, lefty Herb Score was hit by a line drive off the bat of Gil McDougald. Score recovered but was never returned to the pitcher he was.

The A’s Brandon McCarthy was hit in the 2012 season. McCarthy suffered a skull fracture, and the injury was life-threatening. Fortunately, McCarthy recovered and resumed his career. In the 2012 World Series, Detroit Tigers pitcher Doug Fister was hit by a line drive. Fister stayed in the game and was lucky not to have had a serious injury.

The A’s still had to play a baseball game. Everyone knew their hearts were with Bassitt. It’s very hard to concentrate on playing a game when your teammate has suffered such a serious injury.

The summary of the game will be brief. The Sox scored five times in the second. Former A’s third baseman, Jake Lamb, hit a three-run blast off Burch Smith, who took over from Bassitt. The Sox led 5-0 after two. Jose Abreu hit a three-run homer in the fourth to make it 8-0. The Sox added a run in the sixth to finish with a 9-0 run.

Wednesday night A’s will battle the White Sox in game three of this four game series with the A’s starting Cole Irvin (8-11 ERA 3.52) for the Sox Lance Lynn (10-3 ERA 2.26) first pitch 5:10 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.

There will be no game notes or stats. The staff of Sports Radio Service and all of baseball are hoping and praying for Chris.

Former Oakland A’s and now Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendricks gets into the double fist pump mode after closing the door on his former team on Mon Aug 16, 2021 in Chicago (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s met the Chicago White Sox for the first time this season Monday at Guaranteed Rate Field on the Southside of Chicago. The teams entered the game with identical records of 68-50. The A’s sent Frankie Montas to the hill Monday night.

Montas had pitched well in his last several starts. The White Sox countered with the veteran lefty, Dallas Keuchel. Montas had to be on the top of his game as the White Sox lineup is loaded with tough outs. Two outstanding Chicago players returned to action after missing most of the season with injuries. Eloy Jiminez was back in the lineup, hitting behind last year’s MVP Jose Abreu. Luis Robert returned to his spot in center field after being on the 60-day IL.

The A’s knew they had to put runs on the board to beat Keuchel. Oakland put two on the board in the top of the second. Matt Chapman, with one out, blasted his 18th home run of the year. The home run was Chappie’s fourth blast in the last three games. Keuchel then hit Josh Harrison with a pitch.

He walked Stephen Piscotty and Vimael Machin to load the bases. Mark Canha singled to drive in Harrison with the A’s second run. Keuchel settled down and retired the next two A’s hitters to end the threat. The A’s didn’t know it at the time that they were done for the night.

Chicago added single runs in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Montas left the game after the fifth inning, trailing 3-2. Frankie gave up three runs and allowed eight hits, all singles. He threw 99 pitches in his five innings of work. The White Sox added another run in the bottom of the eighth. Luis Robert led off the frame with his third home run of the year. 

The White Sox bullpen held the A’s offense at bay after Keuchel left after five innings of work. The A’s only hit after the fourth inning came in the eight when Jed Lowrie doubled. Former A’s closer Liam Hendriks struck out the side in the ninth to record his 27th save of the year. Chicago wins 5-2.

Game Notes and Stats: With the loss, the A’s record stands at 68-51. The A’s trail the Houston Astros by two and 1/2 games in the race for first place in the AL West. The A’s drop 1/2 game behind the Boston Red Sox to be the number one Wild Card. The New Yankees downed the LA Angels to move with one and 1/2 games behind the second AL Wild card.

The line for Oakland was two runs, six hits, and one error. The A’s had two extra-base hits. Matt Chapman’s homer and Jed Lowrie’s double.

The line for the White Sox was five runs, ten hits, and no error. Luis Robert paced the Sox’ attack with three hits, two singles, and a home run. Chisox manager Tony LaRussa played small ball in the bottom of the sixth. Robert led off the inning with a single.

Robert then stole second. He was called out on the throw from Yan Gomes to Machin. The Sox won the challenge, and Robert was credited with a stolen base. Robert went to third on Brian Goodwin’s ground out. Sox catcher Zeby Zavala, who had two singles earlier in the game, laid down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt to drive in Robert with Chicago’s fourth run of the night.

Chris Bassitt will pitch for the A’s Tuesday night. Bassitt is 12-3, and his ERA is 3.06. Chicago will counter with Reynaldo Lopez. Lopez is 1-0, and his era is 1.35