New York Snaps Their Three Game Losing Skid With Win Over Chicago

After losing three straight games New York snapped their three game losing streak with an 8-4 win over Chicago and in the process they regained the lead in the American League East and improved to 42-27 on the regular season while Chad Green continued his role as an opener.

Green has become a de facto starter as the Yankees joined baseball’s growing trend of using an opener. While his previous four starts yielded mixed reviews, his two innings in Saturday’s game set the tone. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-bats-break-out-in-win-over-white-sox

Green’s stuff was electric as he struck out six of the seven batters he faced, mixing both his slider and fastball, which touched 99 mph during his outing. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-bats-break-out-in-win-over-white-sox

“Felt good today. I’ve been trying to command the fastball more and the slider played off of it pretty well,” Green said. “Just trying to give hitters a second look [with the slider]. Guys are interested in throwing one pitch up here -- it normally doesn’t go too well.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-bats-break-out-in-win-over-white-sox

“He was terrific. Lighting up the radar gun, too,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He was real crisp. I thought his slider was good to the right-handed hitters, which made his fastball play even more.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-bats-break-out-in-win-over-white-sox

After Green’s two innings of dominance, it was recently recalled left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr.'s turn to carry the torch, and he followed Green with a stellar outing of his own. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-bats-break-out-in-win-over-white-sox

Cortes held the White Sox to two runs over his five-plus innings of work, striking out a career-high seven batters and earning his first Major League win in the process. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-bats-break-out-in-win-over-white-sox

“The first few times, I was a little nervous, just trying to get my feet wet. Obviously, I’m more confident putting zeros up,” Cortes said. “I talk to myself on the mound, just saying, ‘Make a pitch, make a pitch,’ and not worry about the strikeout.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-bats-break-out-in-win-over-white-sox

“It's tough with the opener, especially a guy like that, he comes out throwing 98. It's a guy that's pitched at the back end of the game. And then they bring in a lefty,” White Sox catcher James McCann said. “Tip your cap to him, he threw the ball extremely well tonight. We had some frustrating at-bats, but overall he made his pitches. There weren't a lot of mistakes thrown tonight, and we obviously weren't able to take advantage of mistakes that weren't there." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-bats-break-out-in-win-over-white-sox

The offense also showed up in support of Green and Cortes. After struggling to push across runs Friday, the Yankees were able to get to White Sox starter Reynaldo Lopez. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-bats-break-out-in-win-over-white-sox

A four-run fourth inning started the team’s offensive attack.

Gary Sánchez, who through two games vs. Chicago had gone 0-for-6 with three strikeouts, got the Yankees on the board with a two-run double. Gleyber Torres' two-run shot later in the inning gave New York a 4-0 lead before it tacked on in the later innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-bats-break-out-in-win-over-white-sox

"I was commanding my pitches. I was locating my pitches where I wanted,” Lopez said. “It was just a bad inning. I don’t know how Torres hit that homer, because that was a good pitch. That was a good changeup, and he was able to hit it. I tip my cap to him." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-bats-break-out-in-win-over-white-sox

With a lineup that is going to get two of its best hitters in Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton back soon and just added another bat to the mix with Encarnacion, this will not be the last time an opposing pitcher is left scratching his head after facing the Yankees. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-bats-break-out-in-win-over-white-sox

When asked by reporters if there was room for another experienced power bat in his lineup, Boone could only chuckle with his response. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-bats-break-out-in-win-over-white-sox

“There’s always room for good players,” he said with a smile. “Good question, though.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-bats-break-out-in-win-over-white-sox

Meanwhile Chicago was on the other end of the spectrum as they suffered a setback.

They did not surpass the .500 mark for the season after arriving there with two wins to start this four-game series. They also didn’t go quietly. “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-white-sox-lose-to-yankees

Trailing by a 7-0 margin entering the eighth, they scored four runs off of Nestor Cortes Jr. and Jonathan Holder to force closer Aroldis Chapman into action in the ninth. James McCann knocked out his fifth home run, coming against Holder, a three-run shot to right-center following three strikeouts in his first three at-bats. “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-white-sox-lose-to-yankees

Even in a non-save situation, the White Sox had two connections off of the hard-throwing Chapman with a 99.5 mph exit velocity or greater. But they still couldn’t avoid just their third loss in the last 12 home games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-white-sox-lose-to-yankees

“That shows the fight in this clubhouse. Down 7-0, guys weren't rolling over,” McCann said. “We punched out however many times, had a lot of good at-bats, so guys coming through with their third, fourth at-bats, making them count.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-white-sox-lose-to-yankees

“They continued to play obviously,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “Mac’s homer, the guys getting on base. They didn’t give up. They continued to try to do what they can.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-white-sox-lose-to-yankees

Saturday night actually was set up perfectly for the White Sox. “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-white-sox-lose-to-yankees

A raucous sellout crowd of 36,074 was in attendance, marking the team’s second sellout of the season and first since May 5 against Boston, and the dire weather forecast for the evening was reduced to a 32-minute rain delay at the start. But the setback prevented the White Sox from going above .500 for the first time since April 4, 2018 -- when they were 3-2 -- dropping them to 34-35 overall. “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-white-sox-lose-to-yankees

Reynaldo López held the Yankees scoreless for the first three innings before allowing four runs in the fourth. Gary Sanchez doubled home two runs and Gleyber Torres launched a two-run home run, giving him 15 for the season. The Yankees added one in the sixth, two in the seventh and one in the ninth to break the White Sox three-game winning streak. “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-white-sox-lose-to-yankees

Lopez finished with five runs allowed on six hits over six innings, with four strikeouts and two walks. Lopez allowed at least five earned runs for the seventh time in 15 starts, struggling with a curveball used as a solid weapon in his win last Sunday at Kansas City but only thrown eight times among his 97 pitches Saturday. “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-white-sox-lose-to-yankees

Postgame reviews of Lopez’s work were positive, despite the loss and his 6.31 ERA overall. “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-white-sox-lose-to-yankees

“Again the numbers didn’t look good,” Renteria said. “Yeah, we lost the ballgame, but there’s hope for this young man. He’s going to be pretty good. Our patience and his patience to get over the hump are going to be very, very important. I’m not giving up on him.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-white-sox-lose-to-yankees

“I can’t say that, because I had just one bad inning, the outing was bad,” said Lopez through interpreter Billy Russo. “No. It was just one bad inning and I felt good, honestly.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-white-sox-lose-to-yankees

White Sox catcher Welington Castillo and Renteria were ejected by home-plate umpire Phil Cuzzi for arguing balls and strikes in the eighth. McCann started the game at designated hitter, meaning the White Sox lost the DH with the ejection and McCann taking over behind the plate. “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-white-sox-lose-to-yankees

Renteria was ejected for the fourth time in 2019 and 23rd for his career, and it was the second for Castillo. The White Sox offense struck out 16 times against four New York relievers, with Chad Green getting the spot start and fanning six in the first two innings, and Chapman striking out Ryan Cordell to end the night and the bid to push above break-even. “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-white-sox-lose-to-yankees

“It's how you bounce back. And it doesn't mean you're going to win tomorrow, either,” McCann said. “It's just, how do you handle a defeat? How do you handle a bad at-bat? How do you handle a bad outing? Whatever it may be. “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/newnature s/reynaldo-lopez-white-sox-lose-to-yankees

“But it doesn't mean that we step back and say, 'Oh, we're back under .500, we're supposed to lose.' We expect to win when we show up to the ballpark. You can take learning experiences whether you win or lose.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-white-sox-lose-to-yankees

With the loss, Chicago who is a member of the American League Central drops to 34-35 on the regular season.

New York and Chicago are supposed to play their finale on Sunday but mother nature may be the deciding factor.