The White Sox headed south to check out the red-hot Padres, just missing old friend Dylan Cease. The game remained a pitchers’ duel through four innings with only a handful of hits between both teams. As the White Sox reached the end of the road, a walk and two-run homer would send this game to extras for Justin Anderson to blow it.

Xander Bogaerts, who just returned to shortstop recently, couldn’t control the ball, allowing Luis Robert Jr. to get a two-out single. Andrew Benintendi found a gap near Fernando Tatís Jr., who tried throwing a hustling Robert out at third. Joe Musgrove ended the inning by striking out Andrew Vaughn, stranding two runners.

Bryan Ramos strongarmed a throw to first to get Luis Arráez out, and Garrett Crochet had Tatís on a full count that ended in a strikeout. Jurickson Profar also hit right to Ramos and another throw to first ended the inning.

Musgrove retired the Sox in order in the top of the second, and Crochet had to answer. Yonder Alonso’s brother-in-law Manny Machado went down by a fastball from Crochet that touched 99 mph. Crochet then struck out the side against Jackson Merrill and Bogaerts.

Unfortunately, Musgrove did the same thing in the third.

Crochet hit the 200 mark for strikeouts in the bottom of the third, getting the first out by striking out Donovan Solano. He did allow one hit, a single from Jake Cronenworth, but the defense took care of the last two outs without any damage done. Crochet is the 24th to reach 200 strikeouts in a season, eighth by a southpaw.

Musgrove got five straight punchouts, this inning on Robert who was then followed by Benintendi swinging out of the zone. Vaughn ended that streak with a double, but Gavin Sheets left Vaughn stranded and the score remained tied at zero.

Friends, we had a real pitchers’ duel tonight as Crochet once again struck out the side, and reached 99 mph. Due to the limits for the rest of the season, Crochet ended his outing on a high note.

Korey Lee did not allow Musgrove to repeat Crochet this time around with a bloop single with two outs. Dominic Fletcher ended the inning with a groundout.

Prelander Berroa stepped in and gave up a one-out hit to Bogaerts, who he then successfully picked off for the second out. Solano drew a walk after winning the full-count battle. Croneworth also battled against a full count, giving the Padres back-to-back walks. Berroa snapped back into it by striking out Kyle Higashioka on three pitches.

Robert started the sixth with a one-out double, but neither Andrew could send him home. Gus Varland started in the bottom of the sixth inning and followed in Crochet’s footsteps by striking out Tatís. Unfortunately, that’s where it stopped. Varland allowed a hit from Profar, and unfortunately to Machado right after. Merill doubled to drive in two, putting the Padres on the board. With others surrounding him, Fletcher made a dive to catch the hit, but it was an all-around failure. Once regarded as one of the best in the bullpen, Varland struggled with command and a tough Padres offense, allowing four straight hits. Ramos scooped up a hit from Bogaerts, saving a run, but not getting the ball to first in time. Chad Kuhl started warming, but Nicky Lopez ended the inning by getting the ball to first, beating out Solano.

The seventh seemed to be easy for Tanner Scott and Chad Kuhl. Only one hit was allowed by the White Sox.

Hey, let me know if you’ve heard this one before: Lee kicked off the eighth with a double and was left stranded.

Jairo Iriarte, on a one-inning limit, came out for the eighth. Merill walked, but Iriate got out of the inning thanks to two fly balls and a groundout to second.

With two quick outs, Robert Suárez faced off against Sheets. After a full count and several foul balls later, Sheets walked to keep the inning alive for Lenyn Sosa. Suárez faced another battle as his pitch count grew. Like Sheets, Sosa had no intention of giving up and proved himself with a two-run home run with two outs, tying the ballgame.

Solano got a bloop single off Fraser Ellard to start the ninth, and Cronseworth followed suit. Higashioka advanced the runner with a sac fly, bringing Arráez to the batter’s box. Arráez hit the ball right to Sheets who then stepped on second to turn a double play. Onto the 10th!

Lee did his job to advance the ghost runner, but a questionable send would end with Ramos being tagged at home plate for the second out. Lopez struck out to end the top of the 10th, still tied at two a piece.

Bottom 10: Justin Anderson immediately gave up a hit to Tatís, which would be enough for Arráez to score and walk it off. Something something “Not with a bang but a whimper,” for this White Sox team, who are two away from tying the Mets 1962 record, three from passing it with eight games left in the season.

Friends, this team stinks.