White Sox out to turn tables on Blue Jays, win series
June 22 - The visiting Chicago White Sox aim to reverse a trend Sunday afternoon in the rubber match of their three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays have mostly had their way with the White Sox recently. Toronto is 13-2 against the South Siders since June 22, 2022, after a 7-1 victory on Saturday to gain a split of the first two games. The Blue Jays are 9-2 at home against Chicago since May 31, 2022.
The White Sox, however, are in a position to win the series after taking the opener 7-1 on Friday night.
Both teams should have their overworked bullpens in relatively good shape for the season finale after both starters pitched deep on Saturday.
Toronto's Jose Berrios pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing an unearned run and two hits to earn the win. The effort came after the Blue Jays used seven pitchers on Friday.
"He was exactly what we needed," manager John Schneider said. "That's how you answer back after a tough game."
"Knowing the game we had (Friday), I came in today having that in mind," Berrios said. "But also, this is my day, my job and that's my goal, trying to be long in the game."
White Sox starter Aaron Civale was not so successful, but he overcame a difficult first two innings to toss a bullpen-saving seven innings in which he allowed five runs.
The White Sox used five pitchers on Friday after dropping both ends of a doubleheader -- including a 10-inning game -- against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday.
Chicago has lost nine of its past 10 games.
"After a tough start, where he left a couple of pitches in the heart of the plate and paid for it, he did a great job of settling down," manager Will Venable said of Civale. "And to cover seven innings with where we are with our bullpen is huge. ... Just unbelievable to be able to go seven innings on a day where maybe, at the beginning, he didn't have his best stuff."
The White Sox had a reliever make his major league debut for the second straight game on Saturday.
Jake Palisch, who was promoted from Double-A Birmingham on Friday, pitched the eighth inning Saturday, allowing two infield hits and Davis Schneider's two-run double.
Wikelman Gonzalez allowed one run in two innings in his MLB debut on Friday.
Toronto is scheduled to start right-hander Chris Bassitt (7-3, 3.75 ERA) in the finale. He is 5-2 with a 2.94 ERA in nine career starts against the White Sox.
The White Sox are slated to go with right-hander Adrian Houser (2-2, 2.15). In two career starts against the Blue Jays, he is 0-2 with a 9.58 ERA.
Bo Bichette showed the Blue Jays' attacking intentions when he homered on Civale's first pitch of the game, a center-cut sinker, on Saturday.
It was Bichette's third homer over the his five games and his team-leading 11th of the season.
"Bo can do that, he is that talented a hitter," Schneider said. "The leadoff spot is a tricky one, because you're probably going to get a first-pitch fastball. You have to be on time and do your homework."
Toronto's Addison Barger (right hip discomfort) did not play Saturday but Schneider said the outfielder could be available on Sunday.
--Field Level Media
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