G66: White Sox 5, Red Sox 2

White Sox - 101 001 002 - 5  8  1
Red Sox   - 010 000 100 - 2  7  2

Without Mookie Betts in the lineup - he last played on May 26 and is currently on the disabled list - it was another frustrating day of limited offensive production. The Red Sox poked seven hits and drew five walks, and had the benefit of one infield error, but could create only two runs, despite a lot of activity on the bases. Any realistic hope of a comeback vanished when Matt Barnes allowed two runs in the top of the ninth.

The White Sox came into Boston with a road record of 10-21 - and won two of three games. Next up for the Red Sox: visiting the lowly Orioles, who are 19-45 and are 24.5 GB.

The first pitch Rick Porcello (6-5-3-3-5, 105) threw was banged into center for a single by Yoan Moncada. Carlos Sanchez forced him at second and then came around to score on Jose Abreu's double off the Wall.

Porcello stranded runners at first and third in the second and gave up another run in the third. Abreu walked with one out and went to third on Daniel Palka grounder and an error by Rafael Devers. Porcello plunked Matt Davidson to load the bases. He got a popup for the second out, but walked Tim Anderson to force in a run.

On Gameday, balls 1, 2 and 4 were all very close to a corner of the strike zone. After the game, I checked Brooks:

Ball 4 probably should have been Strike 2, but plate umpire James Hoye did not call it.

In the middle of those Chicago runs, the Red Sox put one on the board. J.D. Martinez hit a ground-rule double down the right field line and scored on Devers's single. Devers advanced to second on a groundout and stole third, but was thrown out at the plate when Jackie Bradley grounded to first.

Sandy Leon doubled with one out in the fifth, but Reynaldo Lopez (6.1-6-2-3-6, 96) got two groundouts from Andrew Benintendi and Xander Bogaerts.

In the sixth, Mitch Moreland singled off the center field wall and Martinez grounded into a double play. Then Devers walked, Brock Holt singled to left, and Bradley was hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded (and trailing by two runs), Blake Swihart popped to shortstop.

The Red Sox also batted with the bases loaded (twice) in the seventh. After Benintendi hit a one-out ground-rule double, Nate Jones came out of the bullpen. He hit Bogaerts with his second pitch and, with two down, walked Martinez. Jace Fry took over for the White Sox and Eduardo Nunez pinch-hit for Devers. Nunez reached on Moncada's fielding error, with Benintendi scoring. But Holt flied out to center, leaving three men on base and Boston trailing 3-2.

Barnes struck out his first batter in the ninth, but Moncada reached base on an infield hit after the initial 'out' call was overturned. With two outs, Barnes intentionally passed Abreu. Daniel Palka lined an 0-2 pitch to center for a double, putting the Red Sox in a 5-2 hole.

Joakim Soria walked Moreland with one out in the bottom of the ninth before striking out both Martinez and Nunez.

Reynaldo Lopez / Rick Porcello

Benintendi, LF
Bogaerts, SS
Moreland, 1B
Martinez, DH
Devers, 3B
Holt, 2B
Bradley, CF
Swihart, RF
Leon, C

8 PM: Yankees (0.5 GA)/Mets.