Garcia sparks game-ending double play as White Sox edge Royals
The Chicago White Sox have been one of the worst teams in baseball this season, which comes as no surprise considering they traded Chris Sale and Adam Eaton in the off-season and moved nine more veteran players in July and August.
Outside of the win/loss record, Sox manager Rick Renteria has been pleased with the way his revamped roster has navigated the schedule, which has nine games left.
"We can't control the standings, other than handle how we control things on a daily basis," Renteria said. "Whether it's wanting to get out of the cellar, the proverbial cellar, or wanting to win a division, the only way you can control any of that is how you perform between the lines. My barometer has been, how have they been going about everything this season?
"They've been really consistent in their effort, their preparation, their willingness and desire, especially with all the changes that have occurred, to try to compete. We've been in a lot of ballgames and holding our own."
Opening their final homestand of the season Friday night against Kansas City, things weren't looking good in the third inning when the Royals sent nine hitters to the plate and scored 6 runs on 5 hits and 2 errors.
It was a long, frustrating inning for the White Sox and starter Reynaldo Lopez, but they answered back with 5 runs in the fourth and beat K.C. 7-6 thanks to a stellar game-ending double play started by all-star right fielder Avisail Garcia.
With Whit Merrifield on second base and one out in the ninth inning, Lorenzo Cain single to right and Merrifield was on the move.
Garcia slipped after gloving Cain's potential game-tying hit, but he still made a strong throw home and Sox catcher Omar Narvaez slapped a tag on Merrifield.
With Cain heading for second base after the single, Narvaez threw to Yoan Moncada, who was positioned near first base. Moncada threw down to second and Tim Anderson tagged out Cain to end the game.
"I just tried to throw the ball as quick as I could because (Merrifield's) a fast runner," Garcia said. "I didn't think about it (slipping). Just stand up and throw. You just have to do it."
After the sloppy defensive showing in the third inning, Renteria was happy to see the White Sox bounce back in the ninth.
"Unbelievable," Renteria said. "The defense earlier, that was one of the few times we've unraveled like that. We survived. That's the beat of the game of baseball. You never know what you're going to see on a given day."