There was a moment Tuesday night when it looked as though the White Sox might take sole possession of first place in the pillow fight known as the AL Central.
The Detroit Tigers had lost to the Boston Red Sox. The Cleveland Guardians had lost to the Kansas City Royals. Both Detroit and Cleveland had fallen to 18-19, and with a win over the Los Angeles Angels, the Sox could have gotten to 18-18 and leapfrogged them both.
The Sox even took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Ha! You didn't really think that was going to happen, did you? If the Sox had taken over first place, I would have been worried about the Earth possibly spinning off its axis.
The Sox left the bases loaded in the ninth inning and lost the game, 4-3. I wouldn't say they should have won it, but they most certainly could have.
With runners on first and third and one out in the ninth, Colson Montgomery got a 2-0 fastball right in the middle of home plate and fouled it off. The at-bat continued, and Montgomery fanned on a hanging slider for the second out.
Jarred Kelenic also got a hanging slider moments later, but he fouled it off. Any of those three pitches -- two to Montgomery and one to Kelenic -- could have been put in play hard and likely tied or won the game for the Sox.
While Kelenic eventually worked a walk to load the bases, the game found Edgar Quero, who is batting .154 this season. Quero grounded out to second to end the game.
Most of us were probably hoping the Sox would bounce back in the series finale Wednesday afternoon. Alas, it was a bad day for starting pitcher Noah Schultz, and the defense behind him wasn't especially good.
The Angels shellacked the Sox, 8-2.
The Guardians beat the Royals on Wednesday night, so they are now in first place at 19-19. The Tigers lost to the Red Sox again. They are 18-20. The Sox and Royals are tied for third at 17-20, 1.5 games back. The Minnesota Twins are last at 16-21.
Like I said, a pillow fight.
The Sox finished their road trip 3-3, which honestly is about what you'd expect. It just came in a different shape than maybe I expected. I figured they'd lose two of three in San Diego, and beat the Angels two of three.
It turned out to be the exact opposite. That's baseball for you.
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