White Sox 11, Brewers 2
Brewers now 8-7 (3rd)
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Last time out, Randy Lerch was masterful. He was not Randy Lerch-like, allowing only a run on four hits. But, as has become a theme when talking about good performances this season, “those were the Blue Jays.”
The White Sox are not the Blue Jays. The White Sox scored two runs in the first and another seven in the second. The Brewers’ five-game winning streak was over in a hurry.
But it’s difficult to blame this one on Randy Lerch. While he allowed two runs in the first, he only surrendered the one hit, a two run homer to Steve Kemp. Not a good inning, but certainly not disastrous.
Carlton Fisk led off the second with a solo homer. Not the first nor the last time that will happen. Luckily, no one was on base. Harold Baines then singled, Aurelio Rodriguez reached on an error by Jim Gantner and Bill Almon walked to load the bases. Again, not great. But you’d think he’d be given the opportunity to get himself out of the jam.
Buck Rodgers disagreed, calling in Jim Slaton from the pen to make his first appearance of the season. Ron LeFlore promptly deposited a grand slam home run on the first pitch to make it 7-0. Jim Gantner and Robin Yount made two more errors, and it was suddenly 9-0.
Even the typically potent Brewers lineup would have had difficulties digging out of this hole. But the lineup was anything but potent today facing La Marr Hoyt, who was not only making his first start of the season but recovering from a recent flu bug.
But it was the Brewers who looked sick in the field and at the plate, reaching on only four hits. You just never know what you’re going to get with this team. And while you’d hate to question effort, the defensive miscues and inconsistency are certainly troubling.
Let’s hope it’s merely a bump in the road and a new winning streak starts tomorrow.
Game Notes: Larry Hisle is now dealing with a mysterious eye twitch. He had previously been struggling with a wrist injury … Utility infielder Ed Romero has a bad back.