First off, here is some news. At this point, this could be good or bad.

Moncada will start DHing for the Arizona Complex League team Tuesday, per Grifol. If all goes well, he could return to the White Sox by the end of July.

— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) July 5, 2024

It was a bullpen game for the Marlins with Bryan Hoeing getting his first start, but on a pitch limit. Rookie Drew Thorpe was on the mound for the White Sox for his fifth career start, and pitched a gem.

The first inning started with a Luis Robert Jr. single, adding to his now eight-game hitting streak, after two strikeouts. Andrew Vaughn then drew a two-out walk, but naturally, both were stranded by Eloy Jiménez. Drew Thorpe tossed two ground outs and an easy fly out from Bryan De La Cruz for a scoreless first.

Paul DeJong started with a single to left field, and Lenyn Sosa looked to keep it going. He advanced De Jong to third after a hit to right field but was gunned down trying to take two bases with no outs. Thankfully Nicky Lopez doubled and sent DeJong home, allowing the Sox to strike first. Hoeing got his fourth strikeout of the game in Martín Maldonado, and Lopez was left on base after a grounder from Tommy Pham.

Thorpe walked Dane Meyers in the bottom of the second, and we saw Jake Burger for the first time in the series. That’s about it, though.

Robert got his second hit of the game in the top of the third, but, as the story goes, his single was wasted by the likes of Vaughn and Jiménez. Thorpe made it three scoreless, with just a Vidal Bruján hit, one walk, and two stolen bases with two strikeouts.

A new pitcher emerged for the Marlins, with Roddery Muñoz now on the mound. Lopez drew a two-out walk and a Maldonado double brought him home.

Pham singled to right and Andrew Benintendi drew a walk to load the bases for Robert. Alas, a grounder to short left them stranded.

For the 22nd straight game, a Marlins starting pitcher will not pick up the win tonight

— Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) July 6, 2024

Outside of a Burger walk, Thorpe kept the bases clear in the bottom of the fourth.

Vaughn was robbed of a base hit by Burger in the top of the fifth, but that’s fine, mostly because Jiménez found a hole and got to first safely. DeJong followed the hit with a walk, and Lopez knocked Eloy in with an RBI double over Bryan De La Cruz’s head. Maldy ended the fun though, leaving two stranded.

Technical difficulties with pitchcom plagued the Marlins for a bit, but the sixth was mostly uneventful. Robert walked and was left on base, again.

The super speedy Jazz Chisholm Jr. became Thorpe’s second hit of the night. De La Cruz tried to make the score a little less crooked, but his hard-hit ball died at the warning track. Oh, the benefits of a closed roof. Thorpe continued mowing down batters.

Muñoz had an easy 1-2-3 inning to start the seventh and Thorpe was back out for the bottom of the frame. Dane Meyers doubled, which bounced Thorpe after another great outing. John Brebbia replaced Thorpe with one on and one out; as if the White Sox needed another boneheaded play, Benintendi threw home with no play, allowing Edwards to advance to second and sent Meyers home. Why? Beats me.

Nick Fortes singled, but the ball went right to Pham, holding Edwards at third. In a bit of a bind, Brebbia had two outs, but Chisholm was at the plate. Chisholm walked to load the bases, but that wouldn’t matter. No, not when you have Robert with the catch of the season. De La Cruz tried to take Brebbia deep, but La Pantera jumped into action, robbing any extra runs.

JT Chargois came out for the eighth and managed to get three easy outs.

Tanner Banks came in for the White Sox and got Bell to strike out swinging, and Emmanuel Rivera to ground out. Burger got on base due to a fielding error at short with two outs and we said sayonara to Banks and brought in Kopech. DeJong ended the inning after grounding Meyers’ hit and forcing Burger out at second after Meyers reached on a fielder’s choice.

We had an Old Friend Alert in the ninth when Declan Cronin stepped out to pitch for the Marlins. Robert walked, Vaughn struck out swinging, and Jiménez hit into a double play. Death, taxes, and something something White Sox GIDP.

The bottom of the ninth got a little dicey. Edwards drew a walk to start the inning. Bruján reached on yet another fielder’s choice, but Edwards was forced out at second. Kopech got Nick Gordon looking for the second out. Chisholm put the ball in play by finding a gap in center, and De La Cruz smashed another to center, sending Bruján home. The veteran Bell was unable to produce any additional runs after grounding out. Kopech kept Thorpe’s win intact, somehow, and the White Sox pulled off a rare road win.

It’s an early turnaround tomorrow so get some rest.

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