CHICAGO – The Chicago White Sox tied the game in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday, May 29, because of a bunt from Rikuu Nishida with runners on the corners after back-to-back singles off Detroit Tigers right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan.
The real problem occurred before the bunt was fielded.
Kevin McGonigle deserves blame for that.
“A couple subtle breakdowns created the opportunity for them to make up a play as the play was underway,” manager A.J. Hinch said before Saturday’s game, reflecting on a defining moment in Friday’s 4-3 loss in the first of three games in the series at Rate Field. “You don’t see it very often, but when you see it, there are ways to defend it.”
The Tigers – clinging to a 2-1 lead with one out – were prepared for two possibilities: a double steal and a safety squeeze. On the bunt from Nishida, Finnegan was responsible for fielding anything pushed toward the left side of the infield, allowing McGonigle to hold the runner, Andrew Benintendi, at third base
Instead, McGonigle charged down the line.
As McGonigle moved toward the bunt, Benintendi moved with him – gaining a massive advantage on the bases before the ball was ever fielded. By the time Finnegan picked up the ball and turned to throw it to first baseman Spencer Torkelson, Benintendi was already halfway to home plate.
McGonigle stood in front of the mound after his mistake.
The 21-year-old rookie watched the play unfold.
“At third base, we’ve got to hold our ground,” Hinch said of McGonigle, who finished 0-for-5 with three strikeouts. “We’re not going to come and try to field the bunt. The pitcher has got to control the area at third base and the area in front of him, so that the third baseman can hold the runner at third base. He can only go as far as the third baseman takes him.”
Had McGonigle held Benintendi at third, the White Sox would have had runners at second and third with two outs, still trailing by one run. Even after the breakdown, Finnegan could have charged directly at Benintendi to force him back to third base and leave the White Sox with the bases loaded and one out, still trailing by one.
Here’s what actually happened: Finnegan fielded the ball and threw it to Torkelson for the second out. Once that happened, Benintendi sprinted from the halfway point to score with a head-first slide. The throw from Torkelson to catcher Dillon Dingler would’ve created a play at the plate, but it sailed off target for a throwing error.
Just like that, the White Sox scored the tying run.
“As Kevin moved down the line, so did Benintendi, which allowed him to get halfway,” Hinch said. “I don’t know what would have happened if it would’ve been a better throw from first. It’s obviously happening very fast.”
From there, the Tigers then lost in the 10th inning on a walk-off two-run home run from Miguel Vargas, who hit a changeup that stayed up in the strike zone from right-handed reliever Drew Anderson with two outs.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How Kevin McGonigle mistake at third base allowed White Sox comeback
Reporting by Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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