Chang hits Grandal with throw as White Sox beat Indians 4-3

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This article was published 12/04/2021 (1673 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CHICAGO – Dallas Keuchel came through on short notice and Chicago’s struggling bullpen delivered a big assist. Adam Eaton hit another home run, too.

After all that, it took an errant throw to propel the White Sox to one tight win.

First baseman Yu Chang hit Yasmani Grandal with a throw while trying to force him at second base in the ninth inning, allowing Nick Madrigal to score the winning run as Chicago beat the Cleveland Indians 4-3 on Monday night.

Eaton homered in his second straight game and rookie Yermín Mercedes got the winning rally started with one out in the ninth when he singled to shortstop against Emmanuel Clase (1-1).

Grandal walked to put runners on first and second before Nick Williams sent a slow grounder toward Chang, who chose to try to get Grandal at second rather than step on the bag for the second out. The throw hit Grandal in the helmet and the ball ricocheted toward the left side of the infield as Madrigal — running for Mercedes — raced home.

Eaton hit a three-run homer in the third against Triston McKenzie. Keuchel pitched into the sixth for the White Sox after Carlos Rodón was scratched because of an upset stomach. Codi Heuer (1-0) struck out a career-high four over 2 1/3 innings, and Chicago stopped Cleveland’s four-game win streak.

“Pitching and defence were outstanding today,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “The big home run by Eaton.”

But it was Keuchel’s performance that impressed the Hall of Famer as much as anything else.

Keuchel found out he was starting about two hours before the first pitch, then gave up three runs and three hits. The two-time All-Star, working on four days’ rest, retired 12 in a row following Eddie Rosario’s two-run homer in the second before exiting with the bases loaded and none out in the sixth.

Keuchel walked Chang leading off and gave up a single to Jordan Luplow before walking Cesar Hernandez.

“There really wasn’t anyone else to lengthen the start of the game,” Keuchel said. “That’s where I came in to play. Outside the sixth inning, I think the game went extremely well.”

Evan Marshall came in and struck out José Ramírez. Franmil Reyes tied it at 3 with a sacrifice fly before Rosario struck out.

The White Sox loaded the bases in the bottom half, only to come away empty-handed when Cal Quantrill struck out Mercedes and got Grandal to ground into a double play.

“Bases loaded, bases empty, that’s my job,” Marshall said. “It doesn’t matter what’s going on out there, I’m gonna go out there and do my best to be effective. You sort of ignore what’s going on around you and worry about your own business.”

McKenzie gave up three runs and two hits over four innings in his first start of the season. The 23-year-old right-hander struck out six and walked two.

IN THE CARDS

White Sox closer Liam Hendriks is confident a turnaround is in the cards for him after a difficult start with his new team. His tarot card reader, Rubi, told him so on Monday.

“Hearing that kind of confirmed from a different source who has never seen me wrong in the past is pretty nice to hear,” said Hendriks, who has been using Rubi for years. “Stop worrying about trying to live up to expectations. Stop worrying about trying to do this. Just go out there and be you.”

Hendriks allowed home runs in two of his three outings prior to Monday’s game. It was not the sort of start he envisioned after joining the White Sox on a $54 million deal in January.

TRAINER’S ROOM

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White Sox: La Russa said Rodon improved throughout the day but was still weakened. … La Russa expects SS Tim Anderson (strained left hamstring) to start Thursday’s series finale when he’s eligible to come off the 10-day injured list.

UP NEXT

AL Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber (0-1, 3.65 ERA) and Chicago RHP Lucas Giolito (1-0, 4.22) meet in a matchup of aces as the AL Central rivals continue their four-game series. Bieber is 2-2 with a 2.94 ERA in eight starts against the White Sox, while Giolito is 2-2 with a 2.62 ERA in seven outings versus Cleveland.

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