10 defining moments in 2021
From Jiménez’s spring training injury to the Field of Dreams game
Before the American League Division Series begins against the Houston Astros, here is a look back at 10 defining dates for the 2021 Chicago White Sox.
MARCH 24 The injury bug
Injuries became a big theme throughout the season — and the setbacks started in spring training.
Eloy Jiménez suffered a ruptured left pectoral tendon while attempting to rob Sean Murphy of a home run during the second inning of a Cactus League game against the Oakland Athletics, The left fielder, a crucial bat in the middle of the lineup, wouldn’t return until late July.
A little more than a month into the season, the Sox would be without two-thirds of their starting outfield.
Center fielder Luis Robert suffered a complete tear of his right hip flexor May 2 against the Cleveland Indians when he raced to first for an infield hit. He fell after crossing the bag and had to be helped off the field. He didn’t return until early August.
Second baseman Nick Madrigal, catcher Yasmani Grandal and outfielder Adam Engel also missed significant time.
Major injuries like those could derail a season, but the Sox kept plugging holes and kept winning.
APRIL 2 Stepping up
Yermín Mercedes went 5-for-5 with four RBIs in a 12-8 victory against the Los Angeles Angels, the team’s first win of the season.
He collected three more hits the next game to become the first player in the modern era (since 1900) to begin a season with eight straight hits.
Mercedes was the first of several players to step up while the Sox dealt with injuries.
Some were rookies, such as Mercedes, left fielder Andrew Vaughn, outfielder/infielder Gavin Sheets and third baseman Jake Burger. Others were veterans signed during camp (outfielders Billy Hamilton and Jake Lamb) or during the season (outfielder Brian Goodwin).
Mercedes earned AL Rookie of the Month for April — and he had a burger named after him.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. There was a difference of opinion
between Mercedes and manager Tony La Russa regarding baseball’s unwritten rules that started after Mercedes hit a solo home run in the ninth inning on a 47 mph, 3-0 pitch from Minnesota Twins utility player Willians Astudillo in a 16-4 win.
The next day, La Russa called the swing a “big mistake” because Mercedes missed a take sign. The debate caused a national discussion.
Mercedes cooled off after that scorching first month and was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte in early July.
APRIL 14 Almost perfect
Carlos Rodón threw the 20th no-hitter in Sox history, striking out seven in an 8-0 victory over the Indians at Guaranteed Rate Field.
He was perfect through 8⅓ innings before hitting Roberto Pérez with a pitch. He then struck out Yu Chang and got Jordan Luplow to ground out to third.
After battling injuries throughout his career, Rodón had a breakthrough season. He went 13-5 with a 2.37 ERA and earned a spot on the AL All-Star team. He did go on the IL in August with left shoulder fatigue. He made five starts after returning, but his status for the postseason still is being determined.
Rodón was part of a rotation that led the way for much of the season. All-Star Lance Lynn was in contention for the AL Cy Young Award, going 11-6 with a 2.69 ERA.
Dylan Cease took the next step, going 13-7 with a 3.91 ERA and 226 strikeouts. Lucas Giolito had a strong second half, finishing 11-9 with a 3.53 ERA and 201 strikeouts.
While Dallas Keuchel didn’t
have his typical success, Reynaldo López and Michael Kopech were among the spot starters to come through.
MAY 7 Alone at the top
There were other standout games: the Field of Dreams game, a pair of extra-inning wins against the Tampa Bay Rays (June 16 at home, Aug. 20 away) and Giolito’s July 17 complete-game gem against the Astros to name a few.
On the surface, there isn’t a ton that stands out about the 3-0 win against the Kansas City Royals on May 7. Rodón allowed five hits in six innings, lowering his ERA to 0.58.
But with the victory, the Sox stood alone at the top of the AL Central standings. It would remain that way the rest of the season.
In fact, the Sox led the Central by at least nine games every day since Aug. 1.
MAY 15 What collision?
José Abreu left in the second inning after a scary collision with Royals batter Hunter Dozier in Game 1 of a May 14 doubleheader. Dozier hit a popup near home plate and started to run to first. Abreu came in to try to make a play and the two collided.
Abreu was back in the lineup the next day and homered in a 5-1 loss. A day after that, he scored the winning run on a wild pitch with two outs in the ninth inning in a 4-3 victory.
Abreu continued setting an example as one of the team leaders, following up his 2020 AL MVP season with 30 home runs and 117 RBIs.
JUNE 6 Making history
La Russa was a surprise hire by the White Sox in the offseason. The Hall of Famer hadn’t managed since 2011, when he led the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series title.
He came back for a second stint with the Sox, looking to help the team take the next step after being eliminated in the AL wild-card series against the Athletics.
There were some bumpy moments, like the unwritten rules debate with Mercedes and not knowing that the Sox could pinchrun for pitcher Liam Hendriks in extra innings of a game in Cincinnati.
But he also navigated the Sox through the series of injuries, no small feat on the way to their first division title since 2008.
He made history with a 3-0 victory against the Detroit Tigers on June 6 at Guaranteed Rate Field. La Russa earned career victory No. 2,764, the second-most for a manager in major-league history. It’s a managerial career that began in 1979 with the Sox.
JULY 30 Trading places
The Sox added reliever Ryan Tepera and second baseman César Hernández in trades with the Chicago Cubs and the Indians on July 29.
They made one of the biggest moves of the season the next day, acquiring reliever Craig Kimbrel from the Cubs for Madrigal and reliever Codi Heuer.
Kimbrel was a force this season for the Cubs, posting an 0.49 ERA and converting 23 saves.
His arrival gave the Sox two All-Star closers, as the team already had Hendriks. The question quickly became, who gets the ball in the ninth?
For the most part, it was Hendriks. He finished with an AL-leading 38 saves. Kimbrel was not as consistently sharp with the Sox; he had a 5.09 ERA in 24 outings.
Kimbrel will be crucial, along with Hendriks, Tepera, Aaron Bummer, Garrett Crochet and Kopech, out of the pen during the postseason.
AUG. 12 If you build it
There was a ton of hype leading up to the Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa. And it somehow exceeded expectations.
Simply put, this was the game of the year.
Played in a stadium constructed on the farm where the Oscar-nominated
movie was filmed, the Sox and New York Yankees produced top-notch dramatics.
There were eight home runs, three in the ninth. Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton hit two-run homers to give the Yankees a one-run lead.
Tim Anderson answered in the bottom of the ninth with a two-run homer to right to give the Sox a 9-8 victory. Fireworks went off as Anderson circled the bases. He celebrated with his teammates at home plate.
A screenwriter couldn’t have come up with a better script.
Anderson had a habit of coming up with the big hit throughout the season. He had a .309 average, his third straight season batting over .300. One of the team leaders, he set the tone at the top of the lineup.
AUG. 27 All together
The Sox had their most complete lineup for the first time all season in the series opener against the Cubs.
They fell behind by six runs before even coming to bat but rallied for a 17-13 victory at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Grandal hit a pair of three-run home runs and tied a team record with eight RBIs in his first game off the injured list. Grandal was the team’s hottest hitter before going on the IL on July 6 with a torn left knee tendon.
The time off didn’t affect his timing. He hit nine home runs in 30 games after returning.
Robert had three hits and scored three runs. He had a .350 batting average since returning from the IL on Aug. 9.
The game served as a perfect example of the offensive potential when everything is clicking.
SEPT. 23 Clinching in Cleveland
The magic number stood at two as the Sox began a doubleheader against the Indians.
The Sox got right to work at Progressive Field with a leadoff home run by Anderson.
It was the first of two homers in the game for the shortstop and the first of four on the day for the Sox, who won the seven-inning game 7-2. Robert and Jiménez hit backto-back homers during a six-run second inning and Anderson added a three-run homer.
Hendriks struck out Myles Straw for the final out, sending the Sox to the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history.
More big moments await in the postseason.