Crosstown Clash Exposes White Sox Flaws That Could Cost Them in October

The White Sox lost 7-5 in extra innings after rookie Hagen Smith hung a slider to Pete Crow-Armstrong in the 10th inning, who launched a walk-off homer 391 feet down the right-field line. The loss was compounded by Luis Castillo getting chased after just 4.2 innings, two costly errors, and Jordan Hicks issuing walks in the ninth that kept the Cubs alive.

Pete Crow-Armstrong hit the walk-off homer, a 391-foot shot down the right-field line off rookie Hagen Smith in the 10th inning. It was the first run Smith had allowed in his young major league career, and Crow-Armstrong had already collected three hits on the night before the blast.

Randal Grichuk launched a three-run homer 404 feet to center field off a Shota Imanaga splitter, flipping a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 White Sox lead. The homer came after Miguel Vargas singled following a leadoff walk to Munetaka Murakami.

Venable preferred the lefty-lefty matchup with Smith on the mound against Crow-Armstrong rather than facing Seiya Suzuki, who was waiting on deck. He stated after the game that he would have intentionally walked Suzuki had Smith recorded the out, but the gamble backfired when Crow-Armstrong hit the walk-off homer.

The White Sox rotation has failed to have a starter reach the sixth inning in four consecutive games, putting enormous strain on an already taxed bullpen. Luis Castillo, who was acquired at the trade deadline specifically to provide length, was chased after just 4.2 innings while allowing four runs on eight hits against the Cubs.