Blue Jays no match for lowly Chicago White Sox in series opener
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In his first start for the Blue Jays, veteran right-hander Spencer Turnbull didn’t exactly leave a stirring first impression.
In fact, he left a lot to be desired.
Turnbull’s outing took a turn for the worst just two batters into the evening when he served up a home run to Andrew Benintendi.The visiting Chicago White Sox were off and running, building up a seven-run lead after three innings.
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On Pride Night at Rogers Centre, there not many prideful moments to be mustered by the home side as the Pale Hose took the series opener, 7-1, putting an end to an eight-game losing streak.
Turnbull faced 12 White Sox hitters and allowed seven of them to reach base. His 45-pitch outing was one to forget, a regrettable night featuring five hits and two walks.
When he walked Miguel Vargas to lead off the third inning, manager John Schneider figured it was time for a change and brought in Mason Fluharty. The normally reliable lefty didn’t fare much better, giving up a two-run homer to Luis Robert Jr., then a two-run double to Josh Rojas.
The 40-35 Jays didn’t get their first man on base until Bo Bichette’s leadoff single in the fourth, only to be erased on an inning-ending double play.
The Jays finally mounted some kind of threat in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases with one out only to see Tyler Heineman hit into a double play. It was that kind of night.
At least the evening did usher in the return of Nathan Lukes and Nick Sandlin, each activated off the injured list.
Lukes started in left field and would make a nice catch at the wall, while also going 1-for-4 at the plate with a single.
Sandlin pitched a clean inning in the sixth when he gave up one hit, while recording one strikeout.
Bichette added a double in the home half of the frame, but was left stranded.
But he later drove in the Jays’ lone run in the eighth to complete his three-hit evening.
Perhaps surprisingly, given the score, the seven Jays pitchers deployed on this night combined for 13 strikeouts.
On any given day or night, any team, even the lowly White Sox, who brought a 23-52 record into the evening, can topple an opponent with a better record.
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