Sept. 15 – Nothing will come easy for the Chicago White Sox as they take on the visiting Oakland Athletics in a three-game series on Sunday afternoon.
The White Sox (34-115) ended the franchise’s worst 16-game home losing streak with a 7-6 win on Saturday night, but only after Oakland tied the game with three runs in the top of the ninth inning.
Andrew Benintendi’s first homer in the bottom of the inning gave Chicago a much-needed win. The White Sox must go 9-4 or better in their final 13 games to avoid tying the 1962 New York Mets record for most losses in a season in modern baseball history (120).
A White Sox win on Sunday would give Chicago its first series win since the last weekend in June.
Oakland (65-84) lost Saturday despite another strong performance from right fielder Lawrence Butler, who had two singles 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.
“(I’m) really sticking to what I do,” Butler said. “I don’t want to put too much on my plate and keep things simple.”
Oakland first baseman Tyler Soderstrom was activated from the injured list before Saturday’s game and did not have a hit in five at-bats. Soderstrom missed more than two months with a bone bruise in his left wrist.
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Soderstrom, 22, would receive regular playing time at first base. Soderstrom hit .219 with seven home runs and 20 RBIs in 49 games before going on the injured list on July 11.
“I think the focus is on keeping him healthy,” Corse said. “For him to finish the season in a good mental place and go into the offseason, (knowing) he’s healthy and can practice and prepare for next year.”
Lefty J.P. Sears (11-10, 4.18 ERA) will start for Oakland in the series finale. Last Tuesday, he pitched six scoreless innings in a 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros.
Sears, 28, will be making his 30th start of the season. For his career, he is 1-2 with a 7.80 ERA in three starts against the White Sox.
The White Sox will face right-hander Sean Burke (0-0, 0.00), who is expected to make his first big league start.
Burke, 24, made his major league debut in the bullpen against the Cleveland Guardians last Tuesday, allowing three hits and an unearned hit over three innings in Chicago’s 5-0 loss.
“It’s unbelievable,” Burke said after the game. “This is definitely the best day of my life. This is something I’ve been working on since I first picked up a baseball. It’s hard to put it into words right now.”
Chicago center fielder Luis Roberts Jr. has had a disappointing season, hitting .227 with 14 home runs, but interim manager Grady Sizemore is optimistic about the former All-Star’s ability to stay afloat.
Robert is struggling to regain form after missing almost two months of the season due to a right hip flexor strain.
“Louis was an unbelievable talent,” Sizemore said. “He’s an unbelievable talent. You’re going to have some moments like that. Getting hurt early in the year ruined everything.”
–Visual-level media
