White Sox at Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox look to finish off their first sweep at home since May 10-12 when they host the struggling Chicago White Sox for the finale of a three-game set Wednesday afternoon. Christian Vazquez tied the game with a two-run single that extended his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games and Xander Bogaerts belted a two-run homer as the Red Sox earned a 6-3 victory Tuesday.
Vazquez is 16-for-47 with three homers and eight RBIs during his hitting streak and Mookie Betts has reached base in 16 straight contests for Boston, which moved into a virtual tie with Cleveland and Texas for the second wild card in the American League. Left-hander Chris Sale will try to continue his strong run when he takes the mound for the Red Sox on Wednesday and will face righty Reynaldo Lopez, who is allowing opponents a .289 batting average in his first 16 starts this year. The White Sox are fading out of the wild-card race while losing seven of their last nine contests after coughing up an early two-run lead Tuesday, despite three hits from Jon Jay. Shortstop Tim Anderson had a pair of hits for Chicago to improve to 16-for-48 over his last 11 contests, but had to be helped off the field after suffering a right ankle injury Tuesday night although the White Sox told reporters x-rays were negative.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (4-7, 6.23 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Chris Sale (3-7, 3.59)
Lopez allowed three runs on six hits (two homers) over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision last time out at Texas after a stretch in which he gave up at least five tallies in four of five starts. The 25-year-old Dominican Republic has surrendered at least one home run in eight straight outings and served up 21 overall in 16 starts (86 2/3 innings). Michael Chavis is 2-for-2 with a homer versus Lopez, who yielded six runs across five innings in a loss to the White Sox on May 3.
Sale is unbeaten in four starts this month, permitting seven runs (five earned) over 27 innings combined with 40 strikeouts and four walks. The 30-year-old Floridian was not at his best Friday when he avoided a decision versus Toronto despite giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits over five frames. Jay is 2-for-3 against Sale, who blanked the White Sox on three hits over six innings with 10 strikeouts to earn his first victory of the season May 3.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago 3B Yoan Moncada is 9-for-25 with three RBIs while hitting safely in six straight contests.
2. Boston LF Andrew Benintendi, who was rested in Tuesday’s contest, is 15-for-44 during a nine-game hitting streak.
3. White Sox 2B Yolmer Sanchez missed Tuesday’s contest because of an upper-respiratory infection and is day-to-day.