Readers beware. What you’re about to read is truly, utterly unbelievable. The White Sox lost today, their 19th in 24 games. These things happen, I know, but the way the White Sox continue to lose has been painful for a Chicagoan to watch. A trip through ten losses in the Sox summer slump:
May 30, Twins, 6-7: A tie game entering the ninth ended in a bases on balls walk-off from Torii Hunter. MacDougal allowed a walk, error and infield single before David Aardsma issued a bases loaded walk to Torii Hunter.
June 2, Blue Jays, 3-9: The White Sox were up 3-1 in the seventh inning, but when Jose Contreras and MacDougal teamed to load the bases, Thornton came into the game and allowed a hit by pitch, single and double to surrender the lead. The game became out of reach when the Blue Jays scored five off David Aardsma in the eighth.
June 3, Blue Jays, 3-4: True to form, John Danks only lasted five innings in this start, leaving Ozzie to his bullpen up by two runs. Masset entered the game, loaded the bases, and allowed a bases-clearing, go-ahead double. Conversly, Toronto’s bullpen pitched six shutout innings in this game, adding insult to injury.
June 7, Yankees, 3-10: In another tale of inherited runners scoring, a good outing by Jose Contreras was spoiled by Thornton’s inability to get out of the eighth. Contreras left the game in a tie with runners on the corners; runners who were promptly brought in when Bobby Abreu doubled off Thornton. The Yanks scored one more in the eighth and then six in the ninth, primarily off Ryan Bukvich.
June 9, Astros, 2-3: Jon Garland almost lost a heartbreaker in this game, leaving after seven innings with the White Sox down 1-0. Instead, Garland had a no-decision loss. The one-run lead doubled when Boone Logan allowed a sacrifice fly after Bret Prinz had loaded the bases in the eighth. When the White Sox tied things in the bottom half, Bobby Jenks lost it in the ninth by allowing a trio of singles.
June 13, Phillies, 4-8: The first five half-innings each saw a run scored in this game, so when Bukvich relieved Danks in the middle of the fifth inning, the White Sox were up 3-2. Bukvich got out of the fifth but allowed a run in the sixth to tie things up. Again the culprit, Matt Thornton took the loss in the game by allowing five runs, led by an Aaron Rowand grand slam.
June 17, Pirates, 7-8: The offense was alive in this game, as Javier Vazquez was lucky to leave with the game tied, having allowed five runs in six innings. Ozzie tried Tony La Russa ball in the seventh once Masset had gotten two outs and left a runner at first base. Boone Logan came in and allowed a ground rule double to Adam Laroche, and then MacDougal a two-run single to Xavier Nady. Three batters, three relievers, two runs, one more loss.
June 19, Marlins, 5-7: A taxed bullpen was asked a lot in this game, as Danks only made it four innings, but with the Sox up 5-4. Things became tied when Bukvich allowed a game-tying home run to Josh Willingham, and then another solo home run (this by Dan Uggla) allowed by Matt Thornton put the Marlins ahead for good.
June 20, Marlins, 4-5: Another Jon Garland gem was spoiled today, though Garland can’t be excused completely here. The big right-hander left in the eighth having allowed a single and an error — Bobby Jenks entering the game with no outs. Jenks promptly allowed a three-run home run to Jason Wood, and then another run in the ninth.
Ten losses, all games where the bullpen entered with the game tied or in favor of the White Sox. Chicago’s offense has been brutal this season, they aren’t playing good defense and Ozzie has the tendency to leave his starters in just one inning too long. But the Sox could be contenders right now if not for Matt Thornton, Mike MacDougal, Nick Masset, Ryan Bukvich and Bobby Jenks. Instead, South Side fans might be looking at yet another July fire sale in a few weeks.
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