One ‘dogs–t’ play could end up deciding who wins AL Central
Sam Antonacci would like that one back.
The White Sox left fielder misplayed a fly ball at the worst moment on Tuesday night, aiding Brayan Rocchio’s walk-off double in a 7-6 Guardians win as the two rivals fight for the AL Central title.
Rocchio came to the plate with two outs and runners on second and third with the Guardians trailing 6-5 in the ninth inning.
Rocchio, who has seven career walk-off plate appearances, hit a fly ball toward the left-field corner off Grant Taylor that just eluded a diving try by Antonacci and easily plated the tying and game-winning run.
“Pretty dogs–t, to be honest,” Antonacci said of how he tracked the fly ball. “Just have to clean it up. It’s the big leagues. You can’t make those types of routes in that position.”
The win trimmed the White Sox’s lead in the AL Central to a 1/2 game with the rubber matchup of the series on Wednesday afternoon in Cleveland in what will be the final time the teams meet this season.
The White Sox, who lost at least 100 games in each of the past three seasons, have held at least a share of first since July 4.
When the ball hit the turf, Rocchio flung his helmet in the air and Cleveland’s dugout emptied onto the field to celebrate. Rocchio has developed a knack for late-season heroics with four of his walk-off hits coming in September.
“I didn’t try to do something special in that moment,” Rocchio said. “I just tried to put the bat to the ball and see what happens.”
Rookie Travis Bazzana hit a pair of homers for Cleveland. Closer Cade Smith (6-1) got five outs — on just 16 pitches — and should be available Wednesday.
Jo Adell and Bazzana hit back-to-back homers in the first inning for the Guardians, who couldn’t capitalize on their early 3-0 lead and fell behind before coming up with a victory that kept their division title hopes alive.
Down 4-2, the White Sox scored four in the sixth with Miguel Vargas delivering a two-out single that broke a tie game.
Chicago loaded the bases off Cleveland’s Craig Yoho on a pair of walks and a single before Chase Meidroth hit an RBI single, Randal Grichuk had a sacrifice fly and Vargas ripped a single into left off reliever Hunter Gaddis.
Adell was acquired at the trade deadline to give Cleveland more power, and he provided plenty in the first with his 22nd homer — a 442-foot shot.
— With AP
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