CHICAGO -- The good feeling emanating from two consecutive series wins and three series victories of the past four took another hit as the White Sox lost, 7-3, to the Cubs before 40,134 fans at Wrigley Field.
Here are three takeaways from Game 2 of the weekend set.
Rookie power
White Sox shortstop Chase Meidroth launched his first career home run on the third pitch of the game from Matthew Boyd. First baseman Tim Elko’s second career homer, which led off the fifth against the Cubs' southpaw, had an exit velocity of 111.1 mph and was the hardest-hit long ball by a White Sox player this season.
Both connections were good news for the rebuilding White Sox, who have homered in 18 consecutive games at The Friendly Confines.
“It was good to get that one off my shoulders a little bit. It felt good,” Meidroth said. “Something middle away. Kind of sucked my hands into that fastball up and got enough of it.”
“I got to a 3-1 count and was looking for something in the middle of the zone. I got a pretty good pitch to hit and put a good swing on it,” said Elko, whose drive to right-center traveled a Statcast-projected 425 feet. “I take pride in being able to hit the ball the other way well.”
Meidroth has provided a spark to a White Sox lineup ranked last in MLB in OPS (.618) and 28th in runs scored (155) wherever he hits, but especially at the top of the order. Elko, who at 26 is three years older than his infield mate, earned his way to the Majors through his consistent approach and output with Triple-A Charlotte. He now provides the White Sox with instant, game-changing power.
Both players are not only part of a team that is 14-32 overall but, more importantly, they could be part of this squad as it gradually and purposefully moves toward a contending window.
“Everything is part of the process and coming together as a team,” Elko said. “We want to win every time we step out on the field. It didn’t end up happening today, but you’ve got to keep going, move on to tomorrow and keep chugging on for wins.”
“I’m just trying to put the bat on the ball and get to first base. Anything extra is like a bonus,” Meidroth said. “Keep the line moving. Pass the torch. Get the guy up behind me with runners on.”
Outside the zone
Sean Burke (2-5) minced no words when asked about his command in Saturday’s start, where he walked five and struck out four over 4 2/3 innings.
“It was awful. It was terrible,” said Burke, who threw 54 of his 97 pitches for strikes. “My last two starts, it’s been terrible. You can’t go out there and walk five people and expect to have good results.
“Stuff was fine. It was just command, falling behind guys. I really don’t even think they put too many good swings on the ball other than that Dansby Swanson home run. Make the work harder on myself just walking guys, it can’t really happen.”
But it has happened, with five walks in each of Burke’s past two starts and 27 walks against 33 strikeouts over 48 innings for the season. The White Sox Opening Day starter feels he needs to get back more in sync delivery-wise to avoid the opposition’s extra baserunners leading to prime scoring opportunities.
“For me, it's fastball command specifically,” said White Sox manager Will Venable. “I know that he's intentional about working on it and doing everything he can to get in the zone. We just have to continue to work and be better."
Crosstown turnaround
Saturday’s victory for the Cubs marked a club-record seventh consecutive loss by the White Sox in this Crosstown Cup series, which is even at 74 wins apiece. The Cubs swiped six bases in six chances. The White Sox struck out 12 times and walked once, and their pitchers issued 11 total walks against seven strikeouts.
The National League Central-leading Cubs have outscored a young White Sox squad working for improvement by a 20-6 margin in the current series, but Venable isn’t worried about the White Sox losing confidence.
“These guys have had their backs up against the wall and taken their lumps and continued to come back the next day with a reset mindset and ready to compete,” Venable said. “That's what I like about this group. We've seen it time and time again.”