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CHICAGO – Gavin Sheets came to the plate in the seventh inning of a 9-3 White Sox victory over the Angels on Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field, requiring a triple for the round. He also took with him specific instructions from manager Tony La Russa.
Skip said, ‘If you hit one in the spread, don’t stop,’ “Sheets said with a broad smile on the post-game Zoom. “He said, ‘Carry on.’ … If I hit one in the gap, I had no chance of stopping. Even if I had hit a single I probably would’ve continued… Oh, man, I would have loved to hit one over there.
Sheets beat shortstop Luis Rengifo in the latter at bat, regulation instead for a night of three hits, including a 447-right home run and four RBIs. His performance was part of a team effort reducing the magic number to win the Central American League to seven for the White Sox (83-61).
“He’s definitely important to the team,” White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson of Sheets said. “Just to see what he’s been up to since coming here, and he’s just kept learning and improving. So hopefully he can continue to build on that and continue to be that guy for us. “
Anderson returned to action for the first time since Aug. 28 after being sidelined by left hamstring strain. He finished with a bang. Every White Sox starting position has reached base at least once, and every White Sox starter except José Abreu has had at least one hit. Abreu tied a career-high with three walks.
Still, even with the decisive final score, there were a few moments of apprehension for the White Sox. In the third set, with Lucas Giolito on the mound for his first start in September after withdrawing from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, outfielder Eloy Jiménez made a rebound by running and leaping from the offer of David Fletcher for a home run on the left.
Jiménez suffered an injury in spring training chasing a home run and jamming his left arm into the wall in left field during his failed attempt. So when Jiménez stayed on the ground for a few moments after making the hold and hitting the wall, there was a moment of worry. It turned out to be nothing more than a bit of drama from the always entertaining Jiménez, who made a peace sign at the White Sox reliever pen as he lay on it. the back after planting the face.
– That was unreal, man. This ball was smoked, ”said Giolito. “Every time a home run is stolen it’s always a big party. It was a hell of a room. I don’t really have too many words for that. It was just a sick room.
“Eloy has proven that he deserves this place on the left field. I know he takes this to heart. It’s important for him to show he’s a big league left fielder, and that’s just a great example there.
La Russa was asked if he was holding his breath while Jiménez was on the ground, and quickly stated how “holding his breath” would be the best way to describe what he was feeling.
“I told him that from now on he was going to put his back to the wall. When he backs up he’s just going to bang his head, ”La Russa said. “And he’s going to play it all in front of him. He thinks I’m kidding. I said, “Am I kidding? Because it was so scary. We are going to play it more deeply. And if some bloopers fall, they fall. But he’s not going to fall.
Moment 2 came in the lead by a two-point fifth, when Luis Robert took a quickball from Oliver Ortega at 96.6 mph on the back of his helmet. It was more of a glance thanks to a few quick maneuvers from Robert, who stayed in the game. On the night, Robert had a home run, doubled and scored three points.
Giolito allowed three runs on three hits in four innings and 87 shots. He struck out eight, bringing his season total to 188, and recorded 18 swings and misses, per Statcast.
The win also pushed the White Sox to an Astros game for the No. 2 seed and home court advantage in the first round, although the Astros hold the tiebreaker.
“It’s important that we’re ready and ready to play good, clean baseball and ready and ready to win every night,” Giolito said. “It’s pretty much our mentality all year round. But on that home stretch, at the same time, giving the guys the rest they need and stuff like that before the playoffs, but at the same time taking every game very seriously and playing to win every night. It is extremely important.
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