Missed opportunities loom large as White Sox drop rubber match in Seattle

SEATTLE — The White Sox’ latest comeback effort fell short in Seattle on Wednesday as they left nine runners on base en route to a 5-4 loss to drop the rubber match of their three-game set against the Mariners.

Randal Grichuk’s pinch-hit home run heralded a potential dramatic rally in the ninth inning for the second time in as many games, but they couldn’t muster another off Seattle reliever Jose Ferrer.

Earlier, the Sox drew three straight walks to load the bases in the second inning against Mariners’ starter Emerson Hancock, but he struck out Tristan Peters and got Drew Romo to ground into a double play to end the threat.

Sox starter Sean Burke hit Randy Arozarena with a pitch in the second inning, and the M’s outfielder scored on Dominic Canzone’s double.

Rookie Sam Antonacci responded as he singled, stole second and came home on Andrew Benintendi’s two-out single to tie the fame in the third.

Arozarena walked to open the bottom of the fourth, stole second and came home on Patrick Wisdom’s double. Arozarena’s steal looked like it might have been worth a review, but umpires said Sox shortstop Luisangel Acuna blocked the base.

Three straight singles capped by Munetaka Murakami’s RBI knotted the game for the Sox in the fifth.

The M’s loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth off Burke. Antonacci made a sliding catch on shallow fly. Arozarena popped out before manager Will Venable called in reliever Sean Newcomb, who drew a groundout to escape the jam.

Burke gave up two runs on four hits, three walks and two hit batters over 4 ⅔ innings, along with five strikeouts.

The Sox had runners on second and third in the sixth inning, but Seattle catcher Jhonny Pereda caught Chase Meidroth lingering off third on a bunt attempt by Romo, who then grounded out to end the threat..

Pereda took Newcomb deep to put the Mariners ahead with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh, and Arozarena piled on with a two-run blast later in the inning off reliever Jordan Hicks.

The Sox got one back in the eighth with two runners on when Peters hit a would-be double-play grounder. Mariners’ shortstop Colt Emerson threw the relay wide to first and Meidroth scored on the error.

It was a tough day Emerson, Seattle’s prized rookie, who got picked off first by Sox reliever Brandon Eisert to end the eighth inning.