NBC Sports Chicago is simulating the 2020 White Sox season via MLB The Show during the postponement of play. The White Sox, stocked with young talent and veteran offseason acquisitions, were expected to take a big step forward in their rebuild this season. Follow along as we play out the first few months of the season.
Result: White Sox def. Tigers 2-0
Record: 45-34 this season, first in AL Central (0.5 lead over Twins)
W: Reynaldo Lopez (7-3)
L: Michael Fulmer (2-7)
SV: Alex Colome (16)
Game summary: They've finally reached the mountaintop. While they may not be a permanent fixture atop the AL Central, the White Sox are now first in the division following their victory over the Tigers on Monday.
Reynaldo Lopez was charged with containing the Tigers offense. As has become a common theme recently, the Dominican righty overpowered hitters with his fastball, striking out seven in seven innings of work. He also held Detroit without a run and his high pitch count was the only thing that prevented him from going the distance to complete the shutout.
Meanwhile, the Sox lineup did just enough to secure the victory. Eloy Jimenez roped an RBI double down the right field line to put them ahead 1-0 in the third. Edwin Encarnacion took his parrot for a ride in the fifth, hitting a solo homer to left, and that was all the scoring needed in this one. The White Sox have now won eight straight to take over first place in the Central.
White Sox lineup:
MLB
Edwin Encarnacion: 1-4, HR (24), RBI, R (.318 BA)
Eloy Jimenez: 2-3, 2B, RBI (.252 BA)
Yoan Moncada: 0-4 (.271 BA)
Yasmani Grandal: 0-3 (.309 BA)
Jose Abreu: 0-3 (.294 BA)
Tim Anderson:0-2 (.275 BA)
Luis Robert: 0-3 (.236 BA)
Nick Madrigal: 0-3 (.274 BA)
Nomar Mazara: 0-2, BB, R (.255 BA)
Scoring summary:
Bottom third
Eloy Jimenez doubled to right field, Nomar Mazara scored. 1-0 CHW.
Bottom fifth
Edwin Encarnacion homered to left field. 2-0 CHW.
Notable performance: The White Sox pitching staff is rarely highlighted in this section, and for good reason. They have the worst combined ERA in the league, but Lopez has been the best of the bunch. With his seven shutout innings on Monday, he now sports a sub-4 ERA and leads the team in wins with seven.
Next game: Tuesday, June 23 - Game 80: Tigers vs White Sox (Spencer Turnball, 1-10, 7.62 ERA vs Michael Kopech, 2-0, 4.25 ERA)
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