The Chicago White Sox got a strong effort out of Reynaldo Lopez on Wednesday night, but their bats couldn’t get going as they dropped a 2-0 decision to the Miami Marlins on the South Side.
Cesar Puello hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning off of López, and that was all the offense Miami needed as they won their second straight game to finish off a series win at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Zac Gallen pitched seven shutout innings, surrendering two hits and striking out nine White Sox batters as Chicago’s lineup went silent for the second night in a row. The Sox scored just one run in the final two games of the series as their record dropped to 45-54.
López pitched eight innings for the White Sox, giving up two earned runs and striking out 10 batters while walking just one. Despite his strong effort, he was tagged with the loss.
The two sides traded scoreless frames through the first seven innings of the game, but the Marlins finally broke through in the eighth. After Harold Ramirez was hit by a pitch, Puello stepped up to the plate with one out and blasted a two-run home run to left field, giving Miami a 2-0 edge.
It looked like Adam Engel was going to pull back a run for the White Sox with a home run of his own in the eighth, but Puello made a spectacular play at the wall to deny him that opportunity and keep Miami up by two runs.
In the ninth, the White Sox got singles from Yoán Moncada and James McCann to get the winning run to home plate, but AJ Reed flew out and Yolmer Sanchez grounded out to end the game.
Chicago Baseball
The White Sox will start a four-game set against the Minnesota Twins at 7:10 p.m. on Thursday night, with Lucas Giolito taking the hill for the opener.
