Rate Field largely has been a haven for the White Sox this season. They’ve played their best baseball there, ranking second in the American League with 28 victories.
This week, though, they’ve seemed to lack the energy they usually play with there. The Red Sox’ pitching had a lot to do with that.
In completing a three-game sweep Thursday with a 2-1 victory, the Red Sox held the White Sox to two runs and 15 hits in 27 innings — all singles — and struck them out 25 times.
“Same story today,” manager Will Venable said. “Just couldn’t solve for some really good left-handed pitching. Have to give those guys on the other side credit. They pitched us extremely tough. They were able to neutralize some guys that we’ve seen, especially against left-handed pitching, play really well.”
Patrick Sandoval, the Red Sox’ third left-handed starter of the series, made his first major-league start since June 21, 2024, after recovering from Tommy John surgery. He allowed one run and five hits in 4⅓ innings with one walk and five strikeouts. The Red Sox’ bullpen allowed two hits and zero walks the rest of the way. A one-run lead never felt so big.
“We’ve played really well at home for 10 series in a row,” said designated hitter Andrew Benintendi, who drove in the Sox’ run on a checked-swing tapper up the third-base line. “So it was bound to happen at some point, going through a rough stretch. Credit to them, they pitched really well.”
Down on the farm
If the Sox seek help for the bullpen later this season, they might find it in Triple-A Charlotte. Hard-throwing right-hander Tanner McDougal, who’s back with the Knights after recovering from a strained flexor, will pitch out of the bullpen for the rest of the season.
“Going into next year, we still would aspire for him to train in the offseason to build up as a starter,” Sox director of player development Paul Janish said of the club’s fifth-ranked prospect. “But for the purpose of impact on the major-league team this year, Tanner is going to be pitching out of the pen, with the ability to go multiple [innings], potentially pitch two out of three days.”
On Tuesday, McDougal made his first appearance for the Knights since April 29, striking out two in one inning. He has held hitters to a .145 batting average and has struck out 29 in 25 innings for Charlotte this season.
• Left-hander Hagen Smith, the Sox’ third-ranked prospect, was scheduled to throw his first side session Thursday on his way back from a shoulder impingement. Janish said all signs point to him returning to game action after the All-Star break.
• Sox Opening Day starter Shane Smith is building up to start again. The right-hander, who’s recovering from a strained rotator cuff, has thrown in two rehab outings at High-A Winston-Salem and should return to Charlotte soon, Janish said.
Derby day is Saturday
Former Sox outfielder Scott Podsednik arrived in town early for the Alumni Home Run Derby, which will follow the game Saturday. The leadoff man for the Sox’ 2005 World Series champions readily admitted his chances of winning are slim.
“I’m probably not one of the favorites,” said Podsednik, who had 42 homers in 11 big-league seasons. “I probably have the least amount of home runs of anyone to ever participate in a home-run derby. So I’ve got that going for me.”
The other participants are Gordon Beckham, Jose Canseco, Leury Garcia, Daniel Palka and Alexei Ramirez.
“I’ve hit three times in the cages off the tee,” he said. “I’m hoping just to provide a little bit of entertainment. I don’t know if I can get one out of the ballpark anymore.”
Roster move
The Sox put right-handed reliever Trevor Richards on the bereavement/family medical-emergency list and recalled right-hander Tyler Davis from Charlotte. Richards has been pitching well of late, posting a 1.37 ERA in his last 18 outings (four earned runs in 26⅓ innings).
ON DECK
ATHLETICS AT SOX
Friday: TBA vs. Sean Burke (5-4, 3.56 ERA), 6:40 p.m., CHSN, 1000-AM.
Saturday: Gage Jump (3-3, 3.77) vs. Erick Fedde (4-6, 4.34), 1:10 p.m., CHSN, 1000-AM.
Sunday: J.T. Ginn (7-5, 3.10) vs. Noah Schultz (2-6, 6.00), 1:10 p.m., CHSN, 1000-AM.