White Sox strand 13 runners in loss to Cardinals

CHICAGO — Giovanny Gallegos came in to a sticky situation, with the St. Louis Cardinals clinging to a one-run lead and two on in the seventh inning. It quickly became a heated one.
Umpire Joe West ordered him to switch caps because there apparently was sunscreen on the bill. Manager Mike Shildt, thinking his player was unfairly singled out, got ejected during an animated argument.
That overshadowed everything else in the Cardinals’ 4-0 victory over the White Sox on Wednesday.
“This is baseball’s dirty little secret, and it’s the wrong time and the wrong arena to expose it,” Shildt said. “Here’s the deal. First of all, Gio wears the same hat all year. Hats accrue dirt. Hats accrue substances. … Did Gio have some sunscreen at some point in his career to make sure he doesn’t get some kind of melanoma? Possibly. Does he use rosin to help out? Possibly. Are these things that baseball really wants to crack down on? No.”
Tommy Edman homered twice, and the Cardinals avoided a three-game sweep.
Shildt was ejected with one out in the seventh, after Génesis Cabrera hit Yoán Moncada, putting runners on first and second.
The Cardinals brought in Giovanny Gallegos. West, who on Tuesday set Major League Baseball’s record for most games umpired, said second-base ump Dan Bellino noticed a substance on the brim of the pitcher’s cap.
West said Gallegos told him it was sunscreen. Even so, he made the pitcher switch caps before throwing a pitch because “we don’t want anybody to be accused of cheating or any of that stuff.” The cap was sent to the commissioner’s office.
“The whole point of this is we’re trying to protect his pitcher, and he got ejected,” West said.
Shildt, who was tossed for the second time this season, said he appreciated the motivation. But he questioned why there was enforcement.
“Let’s go check the guys that are sitting there going into their glove every day with filthy stuff coming out, not some guy before he even steps on the mound with a spot on his hat,” he said.
Once the situation cooled, Gallegos squashed the threat, striking out AL MVP José Abreu and Mercedes.
Going deep
Edman connected against Carlos Rodón (5-2) in the third and Aaron Bummer in the eighth for a 2-0 lead. Edmundo Sosa added a two-run single in the ninth, and the NL Central-leading Cardinals came away with the win after losing four of five. John Gant (3-2) dodged bases-loaded jams in the first and third innings while pitching into the sixth. The Cardinals committed two errors, raising their series total to seven, yet managed to stop a five-game road losing streak. St. Louis also denied White Sox skipper Tony La Russa a sweep in his first series managing against St. Louis, the franchise the Hall of Famer guided two World Series championships from 1996 to 2011.
Rodon delivers
Rodón came through with another solid start, giving up one hit in six innings. The left-hander struck out 10 after whiffing a career-high 13 against the New York Yankees last week and did not walk a batter, though he hit two.
“He was outstanding,” La Russa said. “A continuation of what he’s done all year.”
AL Central-leading Chicago was 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
Gant gave up five hits and walked three. The right-hander exited after Andrew Vaughn reached on a throwing error by third baseman Max Moroff leading off the sixth.
Trainer’s room
Cardinals: LHP Andrew Miller remains on track for a second rehab appearance Thursday with Triple-A Memphis after throwing a scoreless inning for the minor league club on Tuesday, Shildt said. … RHP Miles Mikolas (strained right forearm) was being examined Wednesday by Dr. James Andrews. “Hopefully, everything checks out as we expect and it’s favorable news,” Shildt said. … OF Tyler O’Neill (fractured middle finger) is expected to return during the Cardinals’ current 10-game trip, though Shildt wouldn’t say when the team expects to activate him. “He’s definitely heading in a really good direction,” Shildt said.
White Sox: RHP Michael Kopech (left hamstring soreness) and RF Adam Eaton (tightness in right hamstring) are day to day. Kopech fell throwing the final pitch in the seventh and walked off gingerly. Eaton exited after the fifth.
Cardinals: St. Louis begins a four-game series at struggling Arizona, with RHP Carlos Martínez (3-4, 4.18 ERA) starting for the Cardinals and RHP Matt Peacock (1-1, 4.91) pitching for the Diamondbacks.
White Sox: RHP Dylan Cease (2-1, 3.18) looks to bounce back from a loss to the New York Yankees as the White Sox open a four-game series against Baltimore. LHP Bruce Zimmermann (2-3, 5.59) gets the ball for the Orioles.
Gallery: The Region’s biggest Chicago White Sox fans
White Sox fan

Richard and Peter Pedraza

“We represent both sides,” Richard Pedraza wrote via email. Pedraza was born in 1971 and his brother Peter was born in 1972.
Zack Adair

Jeff Everaert

Jeff Everaert with sons Max and Jake at Sox Park
Adan and Cynthia

Adan and Cynthia’s engagement photo.
Lisette Guillen

“I live in the region and fortunate to work with many law enforcement agencies in the Chicago area. That gives me the opportunity to garner agency related gear from each department. But this is by far my favorite t-shirt!”
Renea Otis

“I was named the Ultimate Sox Fan 2014 by Fox 32 News, got interviewed on the news pre-game opening day, was given a signed A.J. bat and partied with this guy for hours before game time! A day I’ll never forget! Born and raised White Sox fan forever!”
Gabriela Allred

“Biggest White Sox fans!”
Viviana

“We are a house divided. My fiancé is a Cubs fan and I am a White Sox fan so our newborn Viviana has to cheer for both.”
Viviana

“We are a house divided. My fiancé is a Cubs fan and I am a White Sox fan so our newborn Viviana has to cheer for both.”
White Sox fan

This Region kiddo attends a White Sox game for the first time.
Heather Hanas of St. John

I will be 37 weeks pregnant & haven’t missed an opening day in 15 years! I will be there Monday tailgating with my crew. This is my favorite holiday of the year & cant wait to cheer my sox on. My baby girls first outfit will be her white sox pink dress coming home from the hospital.
Kathy Morgan of Merrillville

Why such a big Sox fan?
“My mom is the biggest Sox fan that there is in NWI! Her dad and her shared a love for the Sox and sadly he passed away when she was 16. After he passed their memories and her love for the Sox just strengthened beyond belief. She beat cancer and is now by my dad’s side while he needs a heart transplant but in the meantime will be getting a LVAD. She’s had some unfortunate things happen in her life but remains positive and turns to her White Sox for her outlet and stress relief. My mom is 60 and is the biggest White Sox fan I know!”
Kathie MacDonald of Crown Point

I love the Sox so much I had my first dance with Southpaw at my wedding!! I have been a fan since I was little, and would not miss incorporating them into my special day!!
Collin Smith of Crown Point

Why such a big Sox fan?
“I’ve been a die-hard Sox fan since before I could talk. My parents took me to my first game when I was two years old, and since then I’ve been to hundreds of games with family and friends. I watched every World Series game from start to finish in 2005, despite still being in elementary school. No matter the standings, whether we are in first place or last place, I love the atmosphere at the game and watching them on TV. I won a contest last year on the White Sox twitter to go to SoxFest and I got to meet some of my favorite players. Chicago is my favorite city and the White Sox are my team forever.”
Jorie Johnson of Hobart

I had my daughter in May and this game was in July. My daughters first white sox game was at 2 months old! Teaching her early!
Guivert Vara of Valparaiso

Why such a big Sox fan?
“Father and son are true, die hard White Sox fans!”
Brian Page of Chesterton

From submission: “My husband is the biggest Sox fan I’ve ever known. He was rushed to the ER after rupturing his patellar tendon playing volleyball. Doctors told him they wanted to perform surgery on it the very next morning, but he asked to delay the surgery because he didn’t want to miss Sox opening day! So they hooked him up with a sturdy brace, some crutches, and wished him the best of luck…gave me (his wife) a heart attack! He went to the game and he admitted he was uncomfortable, but he still says it was worth it!”
Dan Kozlowski of Winfield

Madison and Mackenzie of Winfield are in White Sox onsies and are using the Cubs hats as diapers. Courtesy of dad Dan Kozlowski.
Carlos Perez of East Chicago

Carlos Perez of East Chicago.
Jeff Centanni of Crown Point

Jeff Centanni of Crown Point shows off his Sox paraphernalia.
Why such a big Sox fan?
“I been a Chicago White Sox Fanatic since the age of 6 years old! The year was 1977, when my uncle took me on a bus trip to Comiskey Park, through my little league, after that I was hooked on SOX Fever! Guess it was the atmosphere of the park seeing the players and the love of the game that why I am a such Sox Fanatic as of today. I have gone to many games since then every year. I even started my son the traditions I was taught through my uncle and my dad, while attending games, getting there earlier for batting practice, autographs, collection of Sox memorabilia, so my son can carry on those traditions in the future. No matter how bad they are I have to support them, even though I take “crap” from other friends from the other side of town how bad they are, I still stand up for the SOX! Even though the players change from year to year along with the stadium names, for me it will always be the Chicago White Sox, till the day I die.”
Gallery
Published at Thu, 27 May 2021 00:45:00 +0000