The Chicago White Sox are off to the worst start in franchise history; calling one loss more painful than others is difficult. However, on Tuesday, Chicago managed to snatch defeat from the claws of victory. The Minnesota Twins overcame a three-run deficit in the eighth inning and walked the White Sox off in the ninth.
Eloy Jimenez gave the visitors a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning with his second homer of the season.
Eloy’s 3-run blast puts the #WhiteSox ahead
— Sox On Tap (@SoxOnTap) April 24, 2024
pic.twitter.com/icEld5rqTG
White Sox starter Erick Fedde was in top form with his most impressive outing to date. The righty tossed six innings of one-run ball, allowed only three hits and no walks, and set a career-high with 11 strikeouts.
#ReadyForFedde pic.twitter.com/gLBjS46qh2
— Sox On Tap (@SoxOnTap) April 24, 2024
The Pale Hose expanded their lead in the top of the seventh on a clutch two-out, two-run base hit from struggling left fielder Andrew Benintendi.
Bout damn time Andrew Benintendi does something productive
— Sox On Tap (@SoxOnTap) April 24, 2024
pic.twitter.com/6zhhX2GTsJ
However, previously reliable members of Chicago's bullpen crumbled, allowing five runs in 2.2 innings en route to the 6-5 loss. The Twins chipped away at the lead in the seventh and eighth. Bryon Buxton singled, advanced to second on Jordan Leasure's wild pitch, and scored on Carlos Santana's two-out double.
Sox manager Pedro Grifol planned to use Michael Kopech for a two-inning save, but Minnesota had other ideas. Trevor Larnach's two-out, two-run homer cut the Twins' deficit to one in the eighth. This forced Grifol to change his ninth-inning strategy and turn to Steven Wilson, who had been performing well.
Pedro Grifol said Michael Kopech would have gone for the two-inning save if he had a smoother eighth.
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) April 24, 2024
But the Sox manager said he wanted Kopech facing the top of the Twins order, and liked Steven Wilson to face Byron Buxton.
However, the lead was short-lived as Buxton hit a leadoff solo homer to tie the game. A walk, a double, and Alex Kirilloff's base hit drove in the game-winning run in Minnesota's walk-off win.
Steven Wilson pic.twitter.com/rtkeUIOtLV
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) April 24, 2024
Brad Keller and Mike Clevinger are ramping up and inching closer to their 2024 debuts. Keller pitched 5.2 innings for the Charlotte Knights, and Clevinger is expected to make his first Triple-A start this week.
Brad Keller tossed 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball with 7 strikeouts for Charlotte against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs tonight.
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) April 24, 2024
Was told Mike Clevinger making his first start for Charlotte this week.
The White Sox look to avoid a series loss Wednesday with Garrett Crochet on the mound against Twins' righty Joe Ryan. First pitch is at 6:40 PM CT and the game will air on NBC Sports Chicago.
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