Angels 8, White Sox 5: Huge lead? Blown

Series sweep is unsuccessful, despite another big game from Colson Montgomery

The White Sox leave Anaheim with a frustrating loss against the Angels, as they walk it off with an 8-5 win after trailing by five runs. The South Siders started the scoring early on, but a shaky bullpen was able to get the job done.

The White Sox got on the board early, as they jumped on righty Jack Kochanowicz in the top of the first inning, thanks to Luis Robert Jr. A Lenyn Sosa single and Andrew Benintendi walk put runners in scoring position for Robert to deliver the opening run.

With Benintendi and Robert on base, Colson Montgomery continued his hot streak, hitting his seventh home run of the season to give the team an early 4-0 lead.

Montgomery leads all of the majors with RBIs since the All-Star break, which is an insane statistic to think about considering the rollercoaster of a year he had in the minors.

The White Sox scored their fifth and final run of the game in the top of the third inning after a dreaded leadoff walk to Sosa, and another single by Robert. Can you guess who was at the plate for yet another RBI?

You probably guessed right. Montgomery singled to secure a 5-0 lead, and his 21st RBI since the All-Star break.

Sean Burke was on the mound for the South Siders, as he had an outstanding day on the bump before the sixth inning, where the unraveling began. He started the sixth, but Zach Neto spoiled the shutout outing with a solo shot to cut the Halos deficit to 5-1. Nolan Schanuel walked, Mike Trout doubled, and suddenly trouble was brewing. Taylor Ward had an RBI single to score another run, and Burke would be replaced before recording an out in the inning. He went five innings with five hits, three runs, two walks, and seven strikeouts.

Mike Vasil took over, but started off his outing shaky with a wild pitch to score Trout, as the lead dwindled to 5-3. Vasil stayed in the game for the bottom of the seventh inning, as Christian Moore singled to start the inning. Old friend Yoán Moncada pinch-hit for the Halos, slamming a single to center. Neto came up clutch again, nailing a double to tie the game at 5-5. Vasil ended the inning with back-to-back strikeouts, but the damage was done.

Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth for the Angels, setting up potential heroics for the home team. And the home team would deliver.

Steven Wilson started out the inning with a fly out, and was replaced by Tyler Alexander. Alexander immediately gave up a double to Schanuel, and Trout was intentionally walked to bring up Taylor Ward with one out. Ward wasted no time sending the crowd home, clubbing a walk-off, three-run home run to left center, giving the Halos an 8-5 victory to avoid the sweep.

The White Sox are still 6-4 in their last 10 games, which is always positive to remember, as the youngsters continue to show their potential.

A frustrating day after what looked to be a series sweep on the horizon, but the White Sox will still leave with a series win. The bullpen (and maybe the bullpen management) failed them today, as the offense did its job early on, and Burke as well. The team will have an off-day tomorrow, before facing Seattle for another leg of the West Coast trip. Game time will be on 8:40 p.m. Tuesday night, as Davis Martin and Bryan Woo will face off.