Two gems, that resulted in outs at third base were key
The four solo homers – by Andrew Benintendi, Lenyn Sosa, Colson Montgomery and Josh Rojas – were nice, a continuation of a power surge in which the White Sox hit 27 homers and averaged 6.9 runs in 13 games after the All-Star break.
But it was two big defensive plays, both resulting in outs at third base, that were probably most responsible for Chicago’s ninth win in 13 games, a 6-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels Friday night.
White Sox right-hander Shane Smith struggled out of the gate in his first start since July 11, the Angels loading the bases with no outs in the first inning on a Zach Neto walk, a Nolan Schanuel single and a Taylor Ward walk.
But catcher Edgar Quero picked off Neto at third, and Smith struck out Jo Adell. After walking Yoán Moncada, Smith got Logan O’Hoppe to ground out, ending an ugly inning in which he threw 35 pitches–15 for strikes–walked three, gave up a hit and somehow didn’t yield a run.
“I felt like [Neto] was getting off the bag far enough to where it gave us a chance,” said Rojas, the White Sox third baseman. “He was leaning as the pitch crossed the plate, so I felt like we could give it a shot.”
Rojas also made a quick catch-and-tag on a relay play that prevented the Angels from scoring the tying run in the seventh.
