What I Say

When we last checked in on White Sox reliever Jose Ruiz, his inability to record outs with a six-run lead in the eighth inning Saturday in Baltimore led Sox manager Tony La Russa to summon closer Liam Hendriks. In all likelihood, if Ruiz does his job Hendriks doesn’t throw eighteen pitches to get four outs in 83-degree Baltimore heat and humidity. Now, fast-forward to yesterday afternoon, the White Sox ahead of the Orioles 4-2, two out in the bottom of the ninth, a runner on first and pinch-hitter Trey Mancini facing Hendriks. Boom; score tied. Then, the Sox score three in the tenth courtesy of Adam Engel going deep. Enter Ruiz, who gave up a hit, a walk and a run in one-third of an inning. Lucky for La Russa he found Matt Foster and Foster had just enough to keep the ball in the park to record the last two outs. Here's hoping La Russa and the front office figure out middle relief in the second half of the season. For what it’s worth, I’ve added my two cents. If it works as well as it seems to with Andrew Vaughn, the Sox will be fine. Otherwise, prepare for heartbreak, Sox fans. Speaking of Vaughn, he hit two homers yesterday and drove in four. Over the last fifteen games, he’s gone yard four times, driven in nine runs and batted .360. That’s what everyone was hoping for from a player picked third in the 2019 draft. As for Engel, I doubt anyone was expecting that much from a 19th round pick in 2013. A tip of the cap to Adam for willing himself to where he is now, which is someone the Sox are a lot better off playing than sitting on the bench. Engel doesn’t have a pretty swing, especially when compared to Vaughn, but he’s strong and runs like the wind. In this, his fifth year with the Sox, Engel looks the best he ever has at the plate; five homers and eleven RBIs in 42 at-bats ain’t too shabby. Did I mention his glove? If there ever comes a day when the Sox start an outfield of Billy Hamilton, Engel and Luis Robert, check the highlight reel. I doubt you’d be disappointed.