Nothing comes easily for the Chicago White Sox, who will face the visiting Oakland Athletics in the rubber match of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon.
The White Sox (34-115) snapped a franchise-worst 16-game home losing streak with a 7-6 walk-off victory on Saturday night, but only after Oakland had tied the game with three runs in the top of the ninth.
Andrew Benintendi’s leadoff homer in the bottom of the inning gave Chicago the much-needed win. The White Sox must finish 9-4 or better in their final 13 games to avoid matching the 1962 New York Mets for the most single-season losses in modern baseball history (120).
A White Sox victory on Sunday would give Chicago its first series win since the last weekend in June.
Oakland (65-84) lost on Saturday despite another strong performance by right fielder Lawrence Butler, who singled twice to extend his career-best hitting streak to 22 games. Butler is batting .378 (34-for-90) with 18 runs, eight home runs and 15 RBIs during his streak.
“(I’m) really just staying with my approach,” Butler said. “I’m not trying to do too much at the plate and keep things simple.”
Oakland first baseman Tyler Soderstrom was activated from the injured list prior to Saturday’s game and went hitless in five at-bats. Soderstrom missed over two months with a bone bruise in his left wrist.
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Soderstrom, 22, is going to see regular playing time at first base. Soderstrom was batting .219 with seven home runs and 20 RBIs in 49 games before landing on the injured list on July 11.
“I think the focus is to keep him healthy,” Kotsay said. “Allow him to finish the season and go into the offseason with a good frame of mind (knowing) that he’s healthy and can go train and prepare for next year.”
Left-hander JP Sears (11-10, 4.18 ERA) will start for Oakland in the series finale. He pitched six scoreless innings in a no-decision in a 4-3 win against the Houston Astros last Tuesday.
Sears, 28, is set to make his team-leading 30th start of the season. In his career, he is 1-2 with a 7.80 ERA in three starts against the White Sox.
The White Sox will counter with right-hander Sean Burke (0-0, 0.00), who is scheduled to make his first major league start.
The 24-year-old Burke made his big league debut last Tuesday out of the bullpen against the Cleveland Guardians, allowing three hits and an unearned run in three innings in Chicago’s 5-0 loss.
“It was unbelievable, ” Burke said after the game. “This is definitely the best day of my life. It’s something I’ve worked for since I picked up a baseball for the first time. It’s hard to put into words right now.”
Chicago center fielder Luis Robert Jr. is concluding a disappointing season while batting .227 with 14 homers, but interim manager Grady Sizemore remains confident in the one-time All-Star.
Robert has struggled to return to form after missing nearly two months this season due to a flexor strain in his right hip.
“Luis is an amazing talent,” Sizemore said. “He’s an incredible talent. You’re going to have some of these years. Getting hurt early in the year, that kills everything.”
–Field Level Media