Fast start, futile finish for Sox in another loss to Astros
Wanting to get the second half of the season started on an upbeat note against the formidable Astros Friday night, the White Sox did just that.
Getting the crowd of 34,516 at Guaranteed Rate Field ramped up early, starting pitcher Dylan Cease retired Houston in order over the first two innings and had five straight strikeouts.
All-star shortstop Tim Anderson tripled on the first pitch thrown by Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr., and Yoan Moncada delivered an RBI double on the next pitch.
Unfortunately for the Sox, the highlight reel ended after that and Houston went on to a decisive 7-1 win.
After the early damage from Anderson and Moncada, McCullers did not allow another hit. The right-hander went 7 innings and allowed 2 walks to go with 10 strikeouts.
"He had a good assortment and made good pitches," White Sox manager Tony La Russa said. "Have to give him credit, he really shut our offense down."
After breezing early, Cease gave up a two-out walk to Martin Maldonado in the third inning and Jose Altuve reached on an infield single.
Anderson fielded the Altuve roller and was ready to force out Maldonado at second base. Leury Garcia was late getting to the bag to take the throw and the lapse proved costly.
Cease hit Michael Brantley with a pitch to load the bases and Yuli Gurriel followed with a 2-run double to give the Astros the lead for good.
"I don't want to say I handed them 2 runs, but I feel like I pretty much gave them the first 2 runs," Cease said.
Before exiting after 5⅔ innings, Cease allowed 3 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 10.
"It was solid," Cease said. "I kept us in it but didn't get the win."
While the White Sox still have a commanding lead in the AL Central, Houston is the best team they've played this year, by far.
The White Sox are 0-5 vs. Houston this season and have been outscored 34-9.
"I think we definitely need to treat these like playoff games and prepare like that," Cease said. "But at the end of the day, it's behind us now. We've got a talented roster, we've got great pitching. There's no reason to lose any self belief."
La Russa knows the Astros have been the better team by a wide margin so far this season but he's not looking back, either.
"We have two more games and you seize the series against them," the Sox's manager said. "I thought the score was not quite as competitive as we are. I think they outpitched us. I think we pitched better than seven runs. Come out tomorrow and compete again. I don't look beyond that."