CHICAGO -- Things seemed to start smoothly enough for right-hander Davis Martin and the White Sox during Saturday night’s game against the Rockies at Rate Field, as leadoff hitter Jake McCarthy bounced a routine grounder to first baseman Munetaka Murakami.
Murakami made the flip, but Martin missed the toss for an error. The Rockies scored three runs in that first inning en route to a 9-6 victory. Before the inning was over, Noah Schultz was called into the game to replace Martin, who was charged with three runs (two earned) in two-thirds of an inning.
Before the night was over, Cleveland clinched the American League Central and sent the White Sox to the AL Wild Card round beginning Tuesday, either at the Rangers or the Astros.
The Guardians celebrated an 11-5 victory in Kansas City, giving them a two-game lead in the division with one game remaining. The White Sox were without Chase Meidroth, their hot-hitting second baseman, for a second consecutive game due to left hamstring discomfort, although he did pinch-hit with a leadoff double in the eighth.
Shortstop Colson Montgomery also didn’t start against left-hander Jose Quintana, with Chicago manager Will Venable putting together w...