The Toronto Blue Jays (17-26) and Chicago White Sox (20-22) will play Game 2 of a four-game series on Friday. The White Sox took Game 1 4-2 on Thursday.
White Sox Looking to Keep Winning
Chicago got a much-needed run in the eighth inning thanks to a suicide squeeze from Austin Cordell. With runners at the corners and the infield in, Cordell bunted to the first base side. Toronto reliever Derek Law (1-0) threw to catcher Danny Jansen, but Yolmer Sanchez slid under the tag to give Cordell his second RBI of the game and Chicago a 3-2 lead.
Charlie Tilson then scored on Leury Garcia’s sacrifice fly. Tilson was originally ruled out on Billy McKinney’s throw, but the call was overturned following a replay review.
Kelvin Herrera (1-2) pitched around two walks in a scoreless eighth to get the win. Alex Colome tossed a perfect ninth for his ninth save in nine chances, completing a two-hitter.
Blue Jays Struggling
Toronto has now dropped two-straight games and is just 2-8 over its last 10 games. The Blue Jays hold a 9-13 record, as they look to even the series back up on Friday.
Freddy Galvis hit a solo shot for his sixth homer and first in more than a month, but the Blue Jays lost for the fourth time in five games as their offense continued to sputter. Toronto entered with a major league-worst .216 batting average.
Marcus Stroman permitted two runs (one earned) and seven hits through six innings, striking out six, He hasn’t won since April 19 and was hit hard in his previous three outings, giving up 12 earned runs over 14 1/3 innings.
White Sox starter Dylan Covey allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and a pair of walks in 5 2/3 innings in his best outing this season. After giving up Galvis’ homer and Brandon Drury’s single to start the second, the right-hander retired 12 straight until Eric Sogard walked leading off the sixth – and came around to tie it at 2 with an unearned run. Covey entered with a 5.91 ERA and was roughed up for four runs in 4 2/3 innings at Toronto last Friday when he walked five.
Toronto recalled INF Richard Urena and optioned struggling OF Teoscar Hernandez to Triple-A Buffalo. In 39 games with the Blue Jays, Hernandez hit .189 with three homers and 15 RBI. Since May 1, he was batting just .114 (4 for 35). Urena started the season with the Blue Jays and entered Thursday hitting .313 in 11 games during two stints with Toronto this year.
For the White Sox, SS Tim Anderson was held out of the starting lineup for rest, but was available off the bench.
White Sox Top Blue Jays
Friday’s matchup will feature Toronto RHP Aaron Sanchez (3-4, 3.75 ERA) and Chicago RHP Ivan Nova (2-3, 6.29). Sanchez has lost three straight, with a 6.35 ERA during that stretch. Nova has won his last two starts, yielding only two runs in 13 innings. We like the White Sox to win this game over the Blue Jays. Bet the Chicago White Sox -115 over Toronto.
