All you need to know, in quickie form, about the White Sox' 5-4 win over the Red Sox, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
The Red Sox rallied in the top of the ninth with two outs to tie the game 4-4, but then the White Sox walked it off in the bottom half of the frame.
Sox closer Kenley Jansen quickly retired the first two batters he faced in the inning. Gavin Sheets reached base on what was initially ruled an error by Triston Casas which would set up Elvis Andrus’ walk-offsingle.
Elvis Andrus walks it off! pic.twitter.com/dtnzWabhqd
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 24, 2023
The White Sox defeated the Red Sox 5-4 at Guaranteed Rate Flied. Boston will need to win the series finale on Sunday in order to win the series and the seven-game road trip.
TURNING POINT
The Red Sox removed James Paxton from his start on Saturday afternoon after just 4 innings and 63 pitches against the White Sox. The team announced that the left-hander is dealing with right knee soreness.
Paxton was pitching well prior to being lifted from the game. He only allowed one run, two hits (solo blast to Yasmani Grandal) with no walks while striking out three. The southpaw threw 42 fastballs, averaging 94.7 mph and topping out at 96.7 mph, per Baseball Savant. He also mixed in his other pitches well, his knuckle-curveball 12 times while enticing four swings and one whiff and he tossed his cutter seven times and changeup twice. Paxton has been one of the Sox' best starters this season pitching to a 3.19 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP.
UP
Jarren Duran’s speed has been a difference-maker for the Sox lineup. The 26-year-old stole three bases on Saturday afternoon, he now has 14 stolen bases on the season.
His speed came into play in the top half of the ninth inning setting up for some late-inning dramatics.
The Sox were down to their final out before Duran came to the dish. The speedy outfielder singled past the White Sox second baseman Tim Anderson. Duran hit the ball hard at Anderson and it kicked up off his glove ricocheting into center field.
Once on first, Duran caused havoc stealing second base and then taking third on a passed ball by Grandal. Justin Turner’s flare into right field would score Duran tying the game 4-4.
The thing about Justin Turner is that he's gonna come through in the clutch. pic.twitter.com/WUlXXZQNTU
— Red Sox (@RedSox) June 24, 2023
DOWN
Josh Winckowski has been a bright spot out of the Sox bullpen this season. Prior to his appearance on Saturday afternoon, the right-hander had only surrendered three homers. The White Sox saw that stat and said hold my beer. Winckowski has tagged for three long balls, including two bombs in the bottom of the sixth. Luis Roberts demolished a 387-foot blast into the left field seats to tie the game at 3-3, this was after Casas tied gave the Sox a two-run lead in the top half of the frame. Two batters later Andrew Vaughn put the ChiSox on top for good with a solo blast, his 12th homer this season into the seats in deep left center field.
NOTABLE
Triston Casas. That's it. That's the tweet. pic.twitter.com/GXC6u7QqXY
— Red Sox (@RedSox) June 24, 2023
Casas provided some thunder with his bat in the sixth inning belting his ninth homer of the season. The two-run home run went 391 feet into the right field seats off Lance Lynn. The blast would chase the White Sox hurler from the game
PITCHING MATCHUP FOR SUNDAY'S SERIES FINALE
The Red Sox will turn to Kutter Crawford (2-3, 3.74 ERA) in the rubber match of this three-game series against the White Sox. With a win, the Sox will win the series against the ChiSox and will end up with a winning record for the seven-game road trip. In each of his last four outings as a starter, Crawford owns a 5.63 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, and .317 opponent batting average. The White Sox have not yet named a starter for the final game of the series.