White Sox and Cubs have a productive weekend as unlikely heros emerge

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There have been many times this season when the White Sox have looked like a clown show.  There have also been many times when I’ve berated White Sox management for not trying to supplement the young players with decent free agents. (That last criticism still goes.)  Still, after Sunday’s 4-1 win over the Tigers the Sox are only three games below .500 at 11-14.  White Sox pitchers struck out a franchise record 20 hitters. That also tied the MLB record for strikeouts in a nine inning game.  The win was part of an excellent weekend for Chicago sports.  I’ll lead off with the White Sox.

Fumblin, bumblin, stumblin, to a win?

Friday night the White Sox showed why they are such a maddening team to root for.  Carlos Rodon took the hill and was awful.  Carlos went three innings and gave up eight earned runs.  Carson Fulmer, who almost always raises my blood pressure when he takes the hill, followed.  He gave two runs in three innings.  For Carson, that’s a lock down performance.  At one time the Sox were down 9-2.  Then they started clawing their way back.  The Sox comeback culminated when Jose Abreu smacked a three run homer to put them up 12-10.  BUT WAIT!  Upon further review Abreu passed Tim Anderson on the bases.  How does that happen?  How many people have to be asleep to let that take place?  Anyway, a three run homer became a two run single.

The Tigers tied the game at 11 in the eighth before Tim Anderson hit a walk off home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.  Saturday’s game was snowed out, which brings us to Sunday.

Where has this been?

Reynaldo Lopez struck out a career high 14 Tiger hitters in the Sox 4-1.  A mystery to me has been why Lopez doesn’t get more strikeouts. Maybe Sunday’s performance will be the start of a market correction.  The Sox pen was also solid Sunday.  Once again, the Sox have some talent; they just need to be more aggressive in getting more.

Rough start

The Cubs weekend got off to a rough start Friday night.  Kyle Hendricks wasn’t sharp and the Cubs were thumped 8-3.  The Cubs offense consisted of a two run homer by Kris Bryant and a solo shot by Javy Baez.  Dillon Maples, Tyler Chatwood and Alex Webster all threw a scoreless inning out of the pen, though Maples and Chatwood each walked two hitters.  

Was Darvish good?  Yu bet he was!

Saturday night saw a huge development:  Yu Darvish made a quality start.  Darvish’s performance highlighted a Cubs 9-1 win over the Dbacks.  David Bote keyed the offense with two homers and five RBIs.  Darvish walked four and struck out eight.  Maybe Darvish isn’t such a bust after all.

The Legend of Tyler Chatwood grows

Speaking of guys that are redeeming themselves, Tyler Chatwood falls into that category.  The Cubs were cruising with a 3-0 lead in Sunday’s game until the Diamondbacks tied it in the sixth.  Both teams were scoreless until the 15th   inning.  I’m not going to go through a blow by blow, but the Cubs engaged in mind boggling futility with men on base in extra innings.  In the 12th inning they loaded the bases with nobody out and still couldn’t score.  They also had golden opportunities in the13th and 14^th but couldn’t deliver.  Ultimately Chatwood keyed the game wining rally.

Chatwood came into the game in a high pressure situation.  In the 13^th Dillon Maples came on and retired the first two Arizona hitters.  Then he remembered he was Dillon Maples and walked the bases loaded.  In an example of extreme irony, Tyler Chatwood was called in to relive a pitcher with control issues.  He responded by striking out John Murphy.

Chatwood also pitched a scoreless 14^th.  It was in the 15^th that the Legend of Tyler Chatwood grew.  With one out, Tyler doubled to right center field.  Ultimately Ben Zobrist doubled in Chatwood and Albert Almora.  Kris Bryant later drove in Zobrist with a sacrifice fly.  So that’s that, right?  Not quite.

Why does it have to be this difficult?

Kyle Ryan came on a got two quick outs before giving up three consecutive hits and two runs.  Alex Webster came on and retired Nick Ahmed on a ball that Ben Zobrist caught on the warning track.  Honestly, it looked like the ball was gone when it left the bat.

Money well spent after all?  We'll see

All in all, a productive weekend for the Cubs, starring Yu Darvish and Tyler Chatwood.  Who would have thunk it?