White Sox (76-74) lose 4-2, fall seven games behind AL Central leaders with 12 games to play
The White Sox desperately needed a sweep this week.
Instead, the Cleveland Guardians got one.
And just like that, with a 4-2 loss Thursday at Guaranteed Rate Field, the Sox (76-74) fell seven games behind the American League Central leading Guardians (83-67), who lowered their magic number to clinch to five. The Sox have 12 games remaining in one of their most disappointing seasons in memory.
The Sox got an RBI single from Eloy Jimenez in the first and Gavin Sheets’ 14th homer in the eighth but six zeros in between against Shane Bieber (12-8, 2.81 ERA).
Sox right-hander Johnny Cueto, pitching for the first time in 11 days after missing a turn due to illness, allowed four runs over six innings. The Guardians, swift and aggressive, used two infield singles and one to the outfield to score a run in the first, and after the Sox tied it in the bottom of the inning against Shane Bieber on Jose Abreu’s double and Eloy Jimenez’ RBI single, the Guardians chipped away with a run in the third and two in the fifth.
