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White Sox aim to make up for controversial defeat in upcoming game against Orioles.
In search of inspiration through debate.
The Chicago White Sox, currently the worst team in the majors, aim to turn their frustration into motivation for their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night. Following a heated ending to the initial game of the series on Thursday, the White Sox are determined to rebound in Game 2 of the four-game series.
Divisive Conclusion Spurs Motivation
The disputed base runner interference call concluded the White Sox’s 8-6 loss to the Orioles. With two runners on base and only one out, Andrew Benintendi hit a pop-up that was caught by shortstop Gunnar Henderson. The umpires initially invoked the infield fly rule, but later determined that Andrew Vaughn obstructed Henderson, leading to a double play that concluded the game.
“It was a big surprise,” Vaughn said about the call. “I don’t feel like he was deterred from making a play. It was a high pop-up. We were all reading it. As a runner, I’ve got to read it and make sure I can get back to the bag.”
White Sox manager Pedro Grifol argued vehemently with the umpires, expressing his frustration over the decision. Despite the setback, the White Sox showed resilience by scoring four runs in the ninth inning. However, they have won only once in their past seven games and are eager to gain traction during their current seven-game homestand.
Orioles’ Bounce Back
In the meantime, the Orioles ended a three-game losing streak, which was their worst of the season, with a win on Thursday. “We can exhale a bit, thankfully,” shared Jorge Mateo of Baltimore, after hitting a three-run homer in the fourth inning. Ryan Mountcastle, a first baseman, had four hits in the game where the Orioles accumulated a total of 13 hits.
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde commented, “Our batting was really strong.” Many guys who had been struggling recently managed to make some excellent contact with the baseball. We would have been happy to see us add a little more.
Baltimore’s eight runs were the most they have scored in their past six games. The six runs allowed by the Orioles matched the second-most an opponent has scored in any of their 30 victories this year.
Pitching Matchup
The Orioles will have right-hander Corbin Burnes (4-2, 2.56 ERA) on the mound for Friday’s game, looking to secure consecutive wins following his impressive performance against the Seattle Mariners, where he held them without an earned run over six innings in a 6-3 victory last Sunday. Burnes recorded 11 strikeouts in that game, marking his second game this season with double-digit strikeouts.
Burnes expressed satisfaction with the appearance of his belongings. I am pleased with how the ball is being thrown. No valid complaints regarding it. Burnes has thrown for a minimum of six innings in his last five starts and holds a 1-0 record with a 4.70 ERA in three previous games against the White Sox.
The White Sox will respond by sending right-hander Chris Flexen (2-4, 5.48 ERA) to the mound, as he aims to bounce back from his tough performance against the New York Yankees on Sunday. Flexen gave up seven runs and eight hits in four innings as Chicago lost 7-2, but he is committed to bouncing back in Game 2 of the four-game series.
“It’s just about executing pitches,” Flexen said. In three career starts against Baltimore, Flexen is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA. The loss came last August when he was with the Colorado Rockies.
Channeling Frustration into Performance
The White Sox aim to use their frustration to fuel a solid performance as they face the Orioles in the upcoming homestand. Fresh off a controversial defeat, the team is motivated to reverse their luck and make a strong showing in Game 2. Supporters can anticipate a fierce and competitive game as Chicago aims for redemption and Baltimore strives to continue their recent success.
