2020 OOTP sim: Sox tie season-best five games over .500

Four homers are all the South Siders need in 4-2 win

DETROIT — The White Sox hitters just wanted to drive themselves in, in today's 4-2 win at the Tigers.

In Chicago's first bats, a possible romp was in the making, with a Yoán Moncada single, Gregory Polanco walk and José Abreu HBP filling the bases with one out. But Edwin Encarnación hit into a 6-4-3 double play to overturn the treasure chest.

Worse, in the bottom of the frame, Cameron Maybin destroyed a pitch out to left field with one on, for a 2-0 Detroit lead.

Fortunately, those were the only runs the Tigers would score.

The solo-shot comeback began in the third, when Moncada cranked out his team-best 20th homer of the year. Three innings later, Eloy knotted the game up and kept the White Sox home run title close with a bomb to left.

It looked like the Chicagos would break the game open wide before the seventh-inning stretch, as the White Sox rocked a two-out rally: Leury García single, Tim Anderson walk, Moncada single. But Eloy grounded out, 6-4, to end the inning. Twice in the first seven frames the White Sox had the bases full but came away empty.

But an inning later, the Sox struck and brought the win home. Polanco led off with screaming liner out to right, into the teeth of a nine mph wind, to provide the eventual game-winning run. But just for kick, Abreu greeted reliever Buck Farmer with a homer to left-center. The 4-2 lead, and eventual win, was powered by four solo shots. 

NOTES: The White Sox have won four of five from the Tigers this season ... in the second inning, Luis Robert legged out an infield hit but came up hobbling and had to leave the game ... Chicago is now just 5 ½ games back in the AL Central race.