Despite outhitting the Guardians 8-6, the White Sox could only muster up a single run against Parker Messick and the Cleveland bullpen.
The South Siders quickly took advantage of the rookie pitcher with two quick singles from Chase Meidroth and Edgar Quero, followed by a double from Lenyn Sosa put the Good Guys on the board.
However, Mike Tauchman lined out to second base, and Quero was caught drifting
off of the bag to stifle the rally with a double play.
Cleveland was in position to answer right back, as with two outs José Ramírez struck out, but reached first on a wild pitch. Kyle Manzardo singled, and Nolan Jones drew a walk to load to bases. Tauchman helped Martin out of the jam by snatching a would-be hit from Gabriel Arias to end the inning.
Martin continued to fight through the bottom of the second, but took a single from Bo Naylor and a home run from C.J. Kayfus on the chin. That would be the end of the threat in the second, but Cleveland was up 2-1.
The third inning only saw one hit, from Quero, and the fourth was just as uneventful, with both teams getting a hit apiece. Curtis Mead doubled in the top of the fifth, but was stranded. Steven Kwan singled to start the bottom of the fifth, and the Sox walked out of the inning after winning a challenge on the safe call for Ramírez, who ended the frame after hitting into a double play.
Ground balls caused the Sox to be retired in order in the sixth, and Tyler Gilbert stepped on the mound for the bottom of the inning. The seventh stayed quiet, with only a single on a soft bunt from Taylor, who got on base three times from the No. 8 spot.
Jhonkensy Noel homered to give the Guardians an insurance run, this time off Fraser Ellard in the eighth in an otherwise uneventful inning. With two outs in the top of the ninth, Kyle Teel emerged in the on-deck circle. Alas, Andrew Benintendi hit a ball straight to the glove of Angel Martínez, ensuring back-to-back losses.
The White Sox aim to avoid the sweep after falling to 57-92 (62-100 pace). They will need to win six of the final 13 games to avoid 100 losses for a record-breaking third consecutive season.
