CHICAGO
Mike Tauchman's game-winning hit traveled approximately four feet.
That was far enough.
After 11 innings, multiple lead changes and a series of scoring opportunities that neither team could completely capitalize on, the Chicago White Sox defeated the Cleveland Guardians 5–4 Friday night at Rate Field.
Tauchman's RBI grounder ended the second game of a doubleheader and gave Chicago a split against its American League Central opponent.
There was nothing spectacular about the distance the baseball traveled.
Statcast measured the contact at just 35.4 mph off the bat.
But the result counted exactly the same as a line drive into the outfield.
And after a difficult opening half of the season, Chicago had another reason to celebrate.
A long day against a division opponent
Friday's doubleheader began with disappointment for the White Sox.
Cleveland took the opening game 4–2, putting Chicago in position to suffer two defeats in one afternoon against a familiar divisional opponent.
The White Sox had spent much of the season struggling to convert competitive stretches into victories.
That challenge was visible again in the nightcap.
Chicago generated offense and took leads, but Cleveland repeatedly answered.
Lenyn Sosa supplied much of the early production.
The infielder hit two home runs, including his ninth of the season in the fifth inning, helping Chicago establish a 3–2 advantage.
For a rebuilding team evaluating which players can contribute to its future, performances like Sosa's carry meaning beyond a single box score.
Power production from a young hitter provides another opportunity to assess how his offensive approach translates against major league pitching.
But Sosa's home runs were not enough to secure the victory without further complications.
Cleveland refuses to disappear
The Guardians tied the game in the sixth inning when Brayan Rocchio delivered an RBI double.
Chicago had moved ahead.
Cleveland had answered.
In the seventh, Angel Martínez added another RBI double, giving the Guardians a 4–3 advantage.
The White Sox were suddenly facing the prospect of losing both ends of the doubleheader despite receiving two home runs from Sosa.
The game had become a test of Chicago's ability to manufacture offense without relying entirely on another extra-base hit.
That opportunity arrived in the eighth inning.
Josh Rojas delivered a sacrifice fly that tied the score at 4–4.
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