The Chicago White Sox got the best of a rookie pitcher Saturday.
The Philadelphia Phillies will look to do the same Sunday in the rubber game of their three-game series against the visiting White Sox.
After an 8-6 victory in Friday’s series opener, Philadelphia turned to first-year right-hander Andrew Painter for Saturday’s contest. However, Chicago was up to the task, scoring four times in the first inning and eventually taking a 6-0 lead en route to a 6-3 triumph.
“The first inning was obviously what really hurt him,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said in reference to Painter’s 42-pitch opening frame. “It kind of put us behind at that point, and we hung in there.”
In the third, the White Sox got solo homers from Colson Montgomery and Jacob Gonzalez. The home run for Gonzalez was his first in the majors in his sixth game, although the 24-year-old has continued to maintain an even demeanor despite his early success.
“Just with baseball in general, it doesn’t define me,” he said. “I have to thank God that I’m here. He is the reason I have this ability. So every day I go out there, try to play, lift him up and know if baseball doesn’t work out, it’s not going to be the end of the world for me.”
Tristan Peters added three hits and an RBI for the White Sox, while Chase Meidroth had two hits and an RBI. Brandon Marsh went 2-for-4 with a home run for the Phillies, who also got a homer from Alec Bohm.
“All of it means nothing at the end of the day,” Marsh said. “We have a chance to go win a series against a really good team tomorrow. That’s what we’re all looking forward to doing.”
In their quest to win the series, the Phillies will face left-handed opener Tyler Gilbert (0-0, 20.25 ERA), who is expected to be followed by rookie David Sandlin (1-1, 8.10). The right-hander’s first two outings — both starts against the Minnesota Twins — were quite different in nature.
In his major league debut May 27, Sandlin gave up one run in six innings in a 15-2 home romp. On Monday, the 25-year-old yielded eight runs in four innings in a 9-6 road defeat.
“Just didn’t do my job today,” Sandlin said. “The guys fought, battled their way back. Just didn’t execute, didn’t fill up the zone, and that’s on me.”
Philadelphia will counter with Aaron Nola (3-4, 5.55), who also has faced the same opponent in his last two outings. The veteran right-hander, who turned 33 on Thursday, gave up only two runs in each of those starts against the San Diego Padres, and enters Sunday with a stretch of three straight starts without allowing a walk.
“It’s easier to pitch and mix a little bit more when I’m ahead,” Nola said after pitching five innings in Tuesday’s 3-2 home win over San Diego. “When I’m behind, it’s a little bit harder. Can’t really throw the swing-and-miss curveball, or expand (the zone) as much when you’re getting behind consistently.”
Nola has pitched well in two career starts against the White Sox, going 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 15 innings.
–Field Level Media
