Chicago White Sox 1–3 St. Louis Cardinals: match recap

Match recap

A pitcher's duel turned on a single swing as Alec Burleson's bases-clearing double in the sixth broke a scoreless tie, lifting the Cardinals past the White Sox. David Sandlin was brilliant over 5.2 shutout innings for Chicago, but the bullpen couldn't hold and the offense left 13 runners on base.

The game was a classic low-scoring affair that flipped on one pitch. David Sandlin kept the Cardinals off the board through 5.2 innings, allowing just two hits while striking out five, but the White Sox offense squandered every opportunity, going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and leaving the bases loaded twice. In the bottom of the sixth, a pair of walks and a single loaded the bases for Alec Burleson, who cleared them with a double to left-center. The White Sox got one back in the seventh on a Chase Meidroth sacrifice fly, but Gordon Graceffo and George Soriano shut the door from there.

Key factors

• Alec Burleson's bases-clearing double in the sixth was the game's only big hit, producing all three of St. Louis's runs.
• Chicago left 13 runners on base and went 0-for-7 with RISP, a complete failure to capitalize on their 5 walks.
• David Sandlin's dominant performance (5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 5 K) was wasted by a White Sox bullpen that couldn't keep the game tied.

The Analyst's verdict

The White Sox have to be kicking themselves after leaving 13 men on base, especially against a pitcher like McGreevy who is not overpowering. For the Cardinals, Burleson continues to produce in the clutch, and the bullpen depth looks solid. Chicago's inability to score with runners in scoring position remains a glaring weakness.