Ex-Sox Starters

The wild card has been very good for ex-White Sox starters, beginning with Garrett Crochet. Pitching Tuesday night in the lion’s den known as Yankee Stadium, the 26-year old lefthander went 7.2 innings, during which time he allowed one run on four hits, with eleven strikeouts making the zero walks all the sweeter in a 3-1 Red Sox win. Crochet told manager Alex Cora he would only need to make one call to the bullpen, and he was right. Last night, Cora called down to the pen six times, but it didn’t work. Yankees 4 Red Sox 3. For better or worse, now-32-year old Carlos Rodon made the Yankee win possible with a pretty good six-inning performance—three runs; four hits; three walks; and six strikeouts. I never doubted Rodon’s grit when he pitched on the South Side. With him it was—and always will be—a question of health. Well, he was healthy enough last night. Did I mention Dylan Cease? Lo and behold, the great enigma threw goose eggs through 3.1 innings, after which San Diego manager Mike Shildt went into analytics’ mode and went to his bullpen. Unlike Cora, Shildt was able to get by on three relievers in a 3-0 Padres’ win. No doubt Cease’s agent Scott Boras will have something to say about the quick hook. Lest I forget, the Cubs called on ex-Sox Michael Soroka, who responded with .2 innings of scoreless relief. So, former Sox pitchers have acquitted themselves well. Now, we’ll se what ex-Cub Yu Darvish does against his old team in the third and deciding game at Wrigley Field late this afternoon.