Back in olden times when the White Sox were fielding competitive teams, we used to say it was a good result when they took two out of three games in a series.
However, in these dark rebuilding times, I often find myself expecting the Sox to get swept in a series -- especially on the road against a possible playoff team.
So, I can't complain about the Sox (34-64) managing a victory over the Seattle Mariners (60-40) this weekend.
For this group, hey, one out of three ain't bad.
Friday, July 20
Mariners 3, White Sox 1: This game started out OK. The Sox got on the board in the first inning on doubles by Leury Garcia and Daniel Palka, but the bats went cold after that against Seattle starter Wade LeBlanc (6-1).
The Mariners' soft-tossing left-hander struck out 10 over 7.1 innings and allowed only four hits. Sox hitters apparently did not know he was throwing a steady diet of changeups, or they simply could not recognize them out of his hand.
We can't blame James Shields (4-11), who went seven innings and allowed two runs. We'll take that from the erstwhile veteran anytime.
Worth noting: Both Palka and Nicky Delmonico were in the starting lineup, while Matt Davidson sat on the bench against a left-handed starter. Makes you wonder whether Davidson's days on the roster are numbered. You wouldn't think two left-handed hitters would get starting nods ahead of him against a left-handed pitcher.
Saturday, July 21
White Sox 5, Mariners 0: Didn't see this one coming. Sox right-hander Dylan Covey had an 11.40 ERA over his previous five starts leading into the All-Star break. Apparently the time away did him some good, as Covey (4-5) pitched the best game of his career. He tossed 8.1 innings of shutout ball, allowing only two hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
Covey's velocity was back up to 95 or 96, with good sinking action. He also featured an effective curveball, which we had not seen in his previous starts. He was in command from start to finish, and that's not something we say often about Sox starting pitchers.
The Sox scored four runs in the fourth inning to take the lead for good, highlighted by Avisail Garcia's 3-run homer. It was Garcia's first game back from the disabled list, and he connected for his 10th home run of the season, this one coming off Seattle right-hander Felix Hernandez (8-8), who pitched five innings and took the loss.
Sunday, July 22
Mariners 8, White Sox 2: No heartbreak in this loss. It was over early as Sox right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (4-8) got shelled for five runs in the first inning on three hits and two walks. Ryon Healy hit the first of his two three-run homers to cap the rally for the Mariners.
That early lead was more than enough for Seattle lefty Marco Gonzales (11-5), who took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Adam Engel singled and Tim Anderson homered to account for the only two Sox runs.
Healy added his other 3-run homer off Hector Santiago in the eighth inning to break a 5-2 game wide open.
The Sox fell to 7-17 this season against lefty starters, with both losses in this series coming against left-handers. Davidson was in the lineup Sunday, and he went 1 for 4 with a single. His average currently sits at .221.
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