Garrett Crochet goes 4 innings in White Sox loss to Marlins originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
MIAMI (AP) — Dane Myers had a two-run home run in the seventh inning and finished with three hits and three RBIs as the Miami Marlins won the Chicago White Sox 4-3 on Saturday, in a clash between the teams with the worst results in the major leagues.
Myers’ 420-foot blast off White Sox reliever Michael Soroka (0-9), his second home run of the season, erased a 3-2 deficit and scored Jake Burger, who had reached on the leadoff walk.
Myers, 28, a converted pitcher, teams up with right-winger Jesús Sánchez and tends to hit left-handed. But when Sánchez felt sore hamstrings on Saturday, manager Skip Schumaker allowed him to face the right-hander Soroka.
“It’s good not only to pass, but also for Skip to have confidence in me and take that hit,” Myers said. “I know we have good lefties on the bench, so Skip gave me that hit that made me feel good.”
Myers was 4-for-8 in the first two games of the series, and Schumaker said he will start again on Sunday.
“It’s funny how this game works,” Schumaker said. “I was trying to stay away from Sánchez because of the hamstring. If he was healthy, I would have pinched Myers. It shows how smart I am, and Myers stays in the game and hits a home run.”
Xavier Edwards scored twice for the Marlins, who snapped a five-game skid and improved to 31-58, second-to-last in MLB.
Huascar Brazoban (1-1) struck out five in two scoreless innings of relief. AJ Puk got three outs in the eighth inning and Tanner Scott closed with a perfect ninth for his 13th save.
“I feel really good when we have a lead after the sixth inning,” Schumaker said.
The White Sox got back-to-back RBI doubles from Gavin Sheets and Andrew Vaughn and took a 3-0 lead into the third inning. But Chicago, which has the worst record in the majors at 26-65, went hitless the rest of the way and struck out a total of 13 times.
Luis Robert Jr. got Chicago on the board early against Marlins starter Yonny Chirinos with a fielder’s choice in the first.
The Marlins got within 3-1 on Myers’ RBI single in the bottom of the third and had Chicago starter Garrett Crochet throw 44 pitches in the fourth when Vidal Brujan hit a single.
Crochet’s 93-pitch performance ended after he retired Burger to close out the quarter. The 25-year-old lefty gave up two runs and five hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
“I didn’t think I threw many heart pitches, but when I did, they resulted in base hits,” Crochet said. “I think what bothers me most are the three walks. Just a lot of unnecessary traffic I caused myself.”
Chirinos allowed three runs and six hits in five innings. The 30-year-old right-hander walked one and struck out five.
“I felt good out there, I was attacking and putting the ball in play,” Chirinos said. “Above all, you learn from your mistakes and that’s what keeps you in the game longer.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Marlins: LHP Ryan Weathers (strained left index finger) is training with the club in Miami but has not been cleared to pitch. … 1B Josh Bell had the day off.
NEXT
RHP Jonathon Cannon (1-2, 4.62 ERA) will start the series finale for the White Sox on Sunday against Marlins RHP Edward Cabrera (1-2, 7.17).
