Palka, Chicago White Sox come up short
The Chicago White Sox had the right hitter in the right place at the right time.
Trailing the Cleveland Indians 3-1 with one on and one out in the ninth inning Saturday night at Guaranteed Rate Field, Daniel Palka came to the plate.
The night before, Palka homered leading off the ninth to lift the Sox to a 1-0 win.
On Saturday, the powerful left-hander connected on a 3-2 pitch from Indians reliever Cody Allen.
"A big moment, a big at-bat," manager Rick Renteria said. "It came off his bat hot. I think he felt like he caught it."
Unfortunately for Palka, his drive sailed to the deepest part of the park and landed in center fielder Greg Allen's glove in front of the wall.
Cleveland hung on for a 3-1 victory, as White Sox starter James Shields (4-14) pitched well in another loss.
"It's been a frustrating season, there's no doubt about it," Shields said after allowing 3 runs on 7 hits in 7 innings. "Just continue going out there every five days, try to go as deep as I can and give my team a chance to win."
The Sox's run came in the third inning, when Yoan Moncada homered off Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer.
In the seventh, Bauer had to exit the game after being hit on the right ankle by Jose Abreu's line drive.
Kopech watch:
He might not join the White Sox until next April to delay his major-league service time, but like Class AAA Charlotte teammate Eloy Jimenez, Michael Kopech continues to prove he's ready for the next step.
In Saturday night's start against Rochester, Kopech allowed 5 hits over 7 scoreless innings. The 22-year-old righty had 9 strikeouts and didn't issue any walks.
Over his last 6 starts, Kopech has a 1.89 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 38 innings.
Splash down:
When the White Sox win in walk-off fashion, keep an eye on Yolmer Sanchez.
When Trayce Thompson hit a game-winning home run against the Minnesota Twins on May 3, Sanchez dumped a bucket of ice water on his own head.
On Friday night, when Daniel Palka snapped a scoreless tie against Cleveland with a home run leading off the bottom of the ninth, Sanchez doused third-base coach Nick Capra.
"It's about having fun," Sanchez said. "Every win is special, so try to do something fun."
As Palka rounded third base, being drenched was the last thing on Capra's mind.
"It was a little surprising," Capra said. "Those Gatorade baths are for the players, not the coaches. But it was fun. That's how (Sanchez) he is. He thinks up something different every day. It creates a lot of fun in the clubhouse."