Surreal experience leaves Sox at a loss
BALTIMORE — Micah Johnson stood in front of his locker late Wednesday afternoon searching for the right words to describe a day unlike anything he'd seen in his baseball career.
The White Sox second baseman kept trying to give his thoughts on what playing a game in front of no fans felt like. He kept bringing up the same word in the brief conversation — “weird.”
This was definitely a weird day for the White Sox and Orioles, who were forced to play a game in which fans weren't allowed. There had been demonstrations on Monday that escalated into rioting, looting and burning that night a few miles from Oriole Park at Camden Yards, forcing the postponement of the first two games of the series.
The decision was eventually made to play this game at 2 p.m. EDT but closed to fans, likely in the interest of safety as tensions remain high and a 10 p.m. curfew remains in place for the next few days.
And so the Orioles handed the White Sox an 8-2 loss in what was believed to be the first game in MLB history without fans.
“It was weird,” Johnson said. “You can't compare it to anything. It was definitely weird. It was quiet, there's nothing going on. You hear everything. The atmosphere, it's just not how baseball is (supposed) to be played.”
The situation remains tenuous in Baltimore. It began earlier this month with the death of Freddie Gray, an African-American from Baltimore who died several days after sustaining injuries to his spine while allegedly in police custody. There were some peaceful demonstrations last week that led to one turning somewhat violent on Saturday night while the Orioles were playing a game.
At one point that night, everyone at Oriole Park was asked to stay in the park until being told it was safe to go home. Gray's funeral was Monday, with violence erupting throughout the afternoon and escalating into the night.
A curfew went into place Tuesday night, the National Guard was called in and the White Sox were pretty much confined to their hotel for the last few days.
White Sox manager Robin Ventura spoke before and after the game about what an unusual experience this has been. This series was supposed to be a three-game set starting on Monday night.
It didn't work out that way.
“We don't feel the same we way we felt on Monday, that's for sure,” Ventura said before the game. “(Tuesday), there was a little bit of concern to be here and to keep it safe. I know they didn't necessarily want to move security or the National Guard down here to protect us while we're playing a game. It's different today.”
Starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija had a tough day, giving up six runs in the first inning, three on a Chris Davis homer. Samardzija said the game had a spring training feel to it because of the lack of fans and the lack of noise.
He allowed eight runs in five innings, but Samardzija said he's not putting too much stock into the way his team played because of everything that went into the game.
“There's bigger things going on right now than baseball,” he said. “You're watching what's happening and you hope and pray for everyone's safety and that everyone's OK. But we also understand we have a job to do. It was just a different day and unfortunately it didn't turn out how I wanted it to.”
Orioles center fielder Adam Jones praised the White Sox for what they had to deal with for the last few days.
“It is all about safety, and I want to applaud the White Sox for sticking with us,” Jones said. “All the inconveniences we faced they faced also, especially on the road without their families, so I want to thank them for being tough about it.”
That's one thing that Johnson talked about when describing how weird the last three days have been. It's not like a rainout because the players really couldn't go anywhere or do anything — and they needed to worry about their safety.
“We've just been staying in the hotel for three days,” Johnson said. “Not allowed to go anywhere really, just for our safety. It's something different. It's weird because you're so used to just playing every single day, now you have two days off thrown in there. You can't go anywhere, so you've just got to stay in your room. It's definitely weird.”
In the end, Ventura might have summarized the situation best when talking about the day afterward. He just wants to move on.
“It was such a surreal experience (that) you get past it and get ready for tomorrow,” Ventura said. “There wasn't much going on. Again, it was just a surreal environment and I don't think we really want to play another one like this.”