It had the sensation of a playoff sport, and it’s what the White Sox got here right here for.
A 2-1 loss to the Cubs? That used to be no longer on their Sunday want record, however all mentioned and performed, for a staff taking a look to carve a distinct segment amongst baseball’s groups to concern and no longer push over, taking two of 3 video games at Wrigley Field will do.
After hammering the Cubs with 11 house runs over the primary two video games, the Sox engaged in a good pitcher’s duel in opposition to Yu Darvish with Dylan Cease, the traded-away Cubs prospect, pitching just like the No. three starter the Sox will want if and once they make the playoffs after this 60-game season.
Darvish used to be unscathed however for Jose Abreu’s fourth house run in a row — a solo shot in the second one that gave the impression to go away Darvish with a glance of amazement as Abreu trotted across the base — and Cease used to be too aside from for Kyle Schwarber’s two-run homer within the 6th.
Cease felt the playoff vibe — in now manner existent all over his rookie season in 2019 — whilst observing the primary two video games of the collection and pitching within the finale.
“Definitely,” mentioned Cease (4-2), who decreased his ERA to a few.16 together with his 5th instantly excellent get started after a dud in his first through permitting 4 hits and 3 walks whilst hanging out 5. “Watching the eighth and the ninth [innings], when we had guys on, too, you could feel that intensity. We’re treating every game like it’s must-win, so it definitely has that feel.”
The Cubs, their offensive struggles however, were there, so those 3 video games in opposition to a perennial contender, fresh World Series champ and crosstown competitor had been a litmus check of varieties for the mashing, bashing Sox within the fourth yr in their rebuild.
“The team has been building, and there’s been a lot of hype,” Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo mentioned after the Sox beat the Cubs Saturday for his or her 7th win in a row. “It’s tough to be on the losing side of it. But when you see teams come together like that, it’s pretty scary.”
Cease escaped hassle two times. The Cubs had runners on 2d and 3rd with one out within the fourth however didn’t rating due to Rizzo getting thrown out at house through 3rd baseman Yoan Moncada (a assessment went the Sox’ manner) and catcher James McCann throwing out Willson Contreras at 2d for the 3rd out. The Cubs stuffed the bases with out a outs within the 5th on two walks and a Moncada error however Cease struck out Jason Kipnis and shortstop Tim Anderson became an Ian Happ grounder at the back of the bag right into a nifty double play.
Manager Rick Renteria appreciated what he noticed of Cease protecting his composure via all of it. Knowing Cease’s numbers are more and more higher this each and every time during the lineup, Renteria didn’t get his bullpen going till after the homer.
“He was crisp, he was sharp, he was still explosive,” Renteria mentioned. “There was no need for me to even consider going and getting him.”
The Sox put two runners on within the 8th in opposition to Craig Kimbrel and didn’t rating and loaded the bases after two outs in opposition to Jeremy Jeffress however Yoan Moncada grounded out to finish the sport.
“I felt like we were in it, in every pitch,” Cease mentioned. “We’re a team that needs to be taken serious and I think they’re a great team, too. It’s one of those series where we had two big teams clash with each other and it was a lot of fun to watch.”
The groups will meet once more at the ultimate weekend of the season at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Sox are 17-12 on the close to midway level of the season.
“The offense has taken off,” mentioned Renteria, whose staff leads the majors in slugging share. “If we get pitching like we did today and swing the bat like we have I’ll take it every single day.”