White Sox Host Rockies, Look to Extend Rare Win Streak
The Chicago White Sox have faced challenges throughout the 2024 season. Yet, exceptional pitching over the past two nights has resulted in an unusual series of wins as they gear up for a Saturday afternoon match against the Colorado Rockies who are visiting.
Performance in the recent past
Chicago White
On Friday, newcomer Drew Thorpe pitched the White Sox to a 5-3 victory against the Rockies in the first of a three-game series, after winning 1-0 against the Atlanta Braves the day before. This is the first time Chicago has won two games in a row since defeating the Boston Red Sox on June 7 and 8.
The White Sox took advantage of a solid sixth inning following the Rockies’ 2-1 lead. Chicago tallied four runs in the lower part of the inning to seal the victory.
White Sox manager Pedro Grifol noted that one area where they excelled was providing responses.
Thorpe played a crucial role by pitching six innings with only two runs, helping to raise Chicago’s home record to 15-28, which remains the lowest in the MLB. The White Sox pitchers have given up 421 runs in the current season, which is the second most in MLB, behind only the Rockies’ 477 runs.
Jonathan Cannon’s Challenge
Chicago will look to continue its rare good fortune on the mound with Jonathan Cannon (1-2, 4.59 ERA) starting on Saturday. The 23-year-old rookie, entering his seventh career start, aims to bounce back from his worst outing, where he allowed eight runs (five earned) on seven hits in just one-plus inning against the Detroit Tigers. Before that, he had thrown 8 2/3 scoreless innings in a June 18 win over the Houston Astros.
Colorado Rockies
On Friday, what seemed to be a strong start from Dakota Hudson turned sour in the sixth inning. Hudson, who leads the majors with 11 losses, was charged with five runs in five-plus innings and walked five batters. The Rockies have now lost four consecutive games and six of their past seven.
“You can’t walk guys,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “(Hudson) will be the first to tell you when you talk to him. … We felt good about him going out there for the sixth and potentially the seventh, but it just didn’t happen.”
The Rockies managed just three hits on Friday, including solo homers from Brenton Doyle and Michael Toglia, and struck out nine times. Colorado has scored only seven runs over the past four games.
“Just having the three hits, it was a good thing we got the two homers,” Black said. “But we couldn’t solve the changeup. The first time you face a fella, the advantage always goes to the pitcher. I’ve said that repeatedly over the last couple of decades.”
Pitching Matchup
Chicago White Sox
Jonathan Cannon (1-2, 4.59 ERA): Cannon is scheduled to pitch on Saturday in an attempt to recover from a challenging performance against the Detroit Tigers. Before that game, he showcased an impressive performance when facing the Houston Astros.
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Colorado Rockies
Cal Quantrill (6-5, 3.50 ERA): The 29-year-old right-handed pitcher will pitch for Colorado, aiming for his first victory since June 11 against Minnesota. Quantrill has experience facing the White Sox from his tenure in Cleveland, where he has a 2-2 record and a 3.89 ERA in 11 total games (including seven starts) against them.
In conclusion
In order to prolong their unusual series of wins and enhance their difficult season, the White Sox will count on Jonathan Cannon to provide a strong showing. In the meantime, the Rockies will attempt to end their streak of losses with Cal Quantrill pitching. This match is important for both teams as they aim to establish consistency and build momentum in the season.