By the Numbers

The White Sox would be going into the All-Star break one game back of the division-leading Twins if not for Lance Lynn making like Dallas Keuchel on Saturday. Instead, the Sox take three out of four in Minnesota to find themselves three games back. But everything I asked for yesterday did come to pass. Dylan Cease went seven innings on just ninety-four pitches; more of that in the second half, please. Cease allowed all of one hit while striking out eight in a 11-0 romp. Did I mention the 26-year old didn’t even crack one hundred pitches? I also asked for Yoan Moncada and Adam Engel to keep hitting; prayers answered. Moncada went 2-for-5 with a double, two-run homer and two runs scored while Engel collected three hits with a double, RBI and two runs scored. I don’t expect Engel to stay in center once Luis Robert gets over his dizziness, but left field is another story. A.J. Pollock is hitting .120 over his last seven games and .190 over his last thirty. Engel is a wizard with the glove and has turned himself into a credible major-league hitter. Give him a chance. His numbers say it’s time.