What the Numbers Say

Last night in Houston, the Astros’ J.J. Matijecvic recorded his first-ever big-league hit—a homerun—against Michael Kopech, who also gave up a two-run shot to Mauricio Dubon, the number-nine hitter. Final score: Astros 4 White Sox 3. In the second inning, the Sox had runners on second and third with one out. Josh Harrison popped out, the just-recalled Adam Hasely was caught looking. No runs. In the fourth inning, the Sox had two on and two out, Harrison up. He flied out to left. No runs. In the fifth inning, Luis Robert doubled in a run with two out. Up next, Jose Abreu, who grounded out to shortstop. Tying run dies at second. Harrison led off the ninth with a walk. Hasely, unsuccessful in one bunt try, struck out swinging. Danny Mendick lined out to right, and Andrew Vaughn hit a lazy fly ball to center. No runs, Sox lose. Kopech said after the game that he saw some positives in his performance; of course, Tony La Russa said pretty much the same. And the Sox come home two games under .500. Numbers don’t lie, especially when they’re based on performance, or the lack thereof.