October 19, Game 1:
Well it's time for Game 1 of the World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers, er White Sox and Braves. Can the Cinderella run for the White Sox continue? Can the Braves finally win it all for the first time since 1995? Read on to find out.
The White Sox train keeps a-rollin' in Game 1 of the World Series as they take their eight straight behind a great outing from Lucas Giolito and more shutdown relief from Ian Hamilton. A couple of Jose Abreu sac flies and a Tim Anderson RBI single was all the offense that was needed. Robbie Ray pitched a fine game, allowing only two earned runs over 6 4-hit innings but Giolito was better.
October 20, Game 2:
Really out of words at this point when it comes to the White Sox. I will note that this team played almost all season without their two top pitchers (Giolito and Cease) and their starting CF and last year's AL Rookie of the Year (Luis Robert) so they were really a better team than their 84-78 record indicated. But yeah, I'm just as surprised as you here.
October 22, Game 3:
The 9-game winning streak is over for the White Sox as there's no miracle comeback this time around. Folty was efficient and threw 109 pitches in the CG shutout (he would be the Game 7 starter if we get there). Braves had HRs from Acuna, Camargo and Adames to back him. Mike Minor, off the IL, had a poor start and was unusually wild, walking 2 and hitting 1 in the first inning the White Sox never recovered from.
October 23, Game 4:
We're tied now after another Atlanta outburst. The team which combined for one run in Games 1 and 2 has now put consecutive 10-spots on the board. Although the White Sox bounced back after another poor start, Atlanta eventually just kept bludgeoning them, getting 6 HRs on the night. Albies, Camrago, Betts, Inciarte, d'Arnaud and Riley all wound up going deep. The White Sox have to hope they can get repeat pitching performances from Giolito and Cease the next two games.
October 24, Game 5:
The White Sox are now one game away from being the team with the second-worst regular season record (84-78) to win the World Series. Only the 2006 Cardinals at 83-78 had a worse record and they didn't play 162 games. Today it was the White Sox who jumped out early against Robbie Ray with 2-run HRs from Michael Chavis and Enrique Hernandez, both mid-season pickups. Lucas Giolito was coasting up 6-1 in the 6th before loading the bases with 2 outs ahead of Freddie Freeman who took him deep for a grand slam. After that the White Sox bullpen did its thing again, although not without some tense moments as they got out a bases-loaded situation in the 8th and a 2-out, 2-on situation in the ninth, but Codi Heuer got the save after bailing out Ian Hamilton as the series goes back to Atlanta in a must-win game for the Braves.
October 26, Game 6:
Yes, I'm even having a hard time typing it: The 2021 World Champion Chicago White Sox. The team that looked like cannon fodder for the Astros through 2 1/2 games in the ALDS suddenly got hot, winning 11 of its next 13 to take it all. The made a statement of intent early, bombing Bryse Wilson for 4 runs in the first on 5 hits, and then things really got ridiculous when Chicago pitcher Dylan Cease took Wilson deep for a solo shot in the 2nd, which was enough to chase Wilson. The Braves bullpen held it close afterwards, especially after Atlanta got a break when Cease had to desist pitching in the 4th, leaving with back pain. The Braves jumped on Jorge Lopez for 4 runs in the 5th and it stayed 5-4 until the 9th, when Yasmani Grandal gave the White Sox insurance with a solo homer off Jasseel de la Cruz to make it 6-4. They needed that run because the Braves wouldn't quit, as Ozzie Albies led off the bottom of the 9th with a homer of his own. After two outs followed, Travis d'Arnaud worked a walk, Ian Hamilton wild pitched him to 2nd, and it took a leaping grap from defensive replacement Tony Kemp in LF to snare a Drew Waters line drive to preserve the win and the title.