Keuchel returns, Sox hit 5 HR in win over Reds
If this is what the White Sox are going to look like when the playoffs begin at the end of the month, the rest of major-league baseball should be on alert.
Getting Dallas Keuchel back on the mound gave the Sox a jolt Saturday night, and another impressive showing by the offense resulted in a 5-0 win at Cincinnati.
Exiting his Sept. 6 start with back spasms after pitching 5 scoreless innings, Keuchel landed on the injured list.
The 32-year-old lefty said his much of the down time was spent going to Guaranteed Rate Field and getting treatment and going back home and sleeping.
Returning against the Reds, Keuchel didn't give up any runs but he lasted just 4 innings and gave up 4 hits and 3 walks while throwing 75 pitches.
"I felt as expected, really rusty," said Keuchel, who also had 7 strikeouts. "I was telling skip (manager Rick Renteria), I was very, very fortunate tonight. That's got to be one of the luckiest starts I've ever had.
"To be in the positions I was in early, and often, pitch count racking up and just the quality of pitches was not there tonight, I got out with 4 (innings) basically feeling good but just really weak."
The Reds stranded two runners in the first and third innings and they left the bases loaded in the second.
Fortunately for Keuchel, he has another start at Cleveland this week before the playoffs start.
"I'd like to go 6 (innings) on Thursday," Keuchel said. "We'll hope I have better pitch execution."
Cy Young Award candidate Trevor Bauer started for Cincinnati and gave up 2 runs in 7 innings.
The White Sox hit 5 solo home runs in the win, including a pair by Tim Anderson.
"From top to bottom, we're dangerous," Anderson said. "Any one of those guys can take it out of the ballpark. When we're clicking at all angles, we're tough to beat."
Nomar Mazara finally hit his first home of the season, off Bauer in the fifth inning.
"I think everybody was waiting for that moment," Mazara said. "That one felt good. I've been working really, really hard the last couple of days. The question was when was it was going to happen? I sat back and let one go, it finally happened."
Making progress:
On the injured list since Aug. 7 with biceps soreness, Aaron Bummer threw 20 pitches in a simulated game Saturday and could be close to rejoining the Sox's bullpen.
"Faced a couple of hitters, looked good, looked really, really good," manager Rick Renteria said. "He says he feels good so we're very positive about how he's progressing."
A standout left-hander, Bummer is 1-0 with a 1.22 ERA in 7 games this season.