Garcia's late heroics lift White Sox to 1-0 win over Giants
The White Sox opened a three-game series in San Francisco against the Giants on Friday night.
They were also keeping a close eye on the other side of the country, where Eloy Jimenez played his first rehab game in left field for Class AAA Charlotte since returning from a leg issue on June 23 following a two-week break.
It was a significant development, and Jimenez walked all three times he went to the plate before making an early exit in Charlotte's 9-8 loss to Durham.
Assuming he can handle a few more games in the outfield at Triple-A, Jimenez should be back with the Sox later next week.
"Is he close? I can't answer that," manager Tony La Russa told reporters at Oracle Park. "I know he's getting closer, he's doing more, but I don't know, I'd be surprised if he got back in the early parts of next week. I don't think he's that close. But he's improving."
In the White Sox's first game against the Giants since 2017, Leury Garcia emerged from a season-long slump and sparked a 1-0 win.
With two outs in the ninth inning, Garcia singled on a 2-2 pitch from San Francisco closer Camilo Doval, scoring pinch-runner Adam Haseley from second base.
Lane Lynn made his fourth start since coming off the injured list with a knee injury.
Lynn had a rough ride in the first inning, but he was able to put up a zero after the Giants loaded the bases with two outs on a pair of walks and a single.
In the third, Lynn appeared to tweak his right knee while pitching to Joc Pederson, who leads San Francisco with 17 home runs.
Lynn, who had knee surgery in early April, was able to stay in the game. The right-hander wound up pitching 6 innings, allowing 3 hits to go with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. He threw 104 pitches.
Friday night was far and away Lynn's best outing since he came off the IL, but the White Sox's offense was quiet early against Giants starter Alex Cobb.
Jose Abreu's infield single with two outs in the fourth inning was the first hit off Cobb, and it extended the first baseman's hitting streak to six games.
Getting Jimenez back in the lineup can only help a Sox offense that has scored 3 runs or less five times in the last seven games heading into Friday's play.
While he batted only .222/.256/.33 with 1 home run and 7 RBI in 11 games before injuring his hamstring, Jimenez did hit 31 home runs in 2019 and can provide similar power if he manages to stay healthy.
The 25-year-old outfielder injured his right hamstring running to first base during an April 23 game against Minnesota.
"I just want to see Eloy," La Russa said. "I want him hitting in the middle of our lineup with that ability to drive in important runs. But only if he's healthy, right? Can't rush it."