Benintendi’s Grand Slam Not Enough as White Sox Drop Two More Close Games

The White Sox woes in close games continued on Thursday with a pair of back-breaking losses to the Cardinals, extending their losing streak to eight games. 

One-Run Woes Persist

The White Sox received a solid performance from starter Sean Burke in the first game of the doubleheader, who went 5.1 innings, allowing just two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and a pair of walks. 

When left-hander Brandon Eisert entered the game in the sixth inning, he inherited a two-run lead, as well as two of Burke’s base runners. He retired the first batter he faced, before the White Sox chose to intentionally walk Nolan Arenado to load the bases. 

Despite having a favorable lefty-lefty matchup against Lars Nootbar, Eisert walked in a run on five pitches before striking out Jordan Walker to end the inning. 

The White Sox offense responded by retaking the lead courtesy of a Michael A Taylor two-run homer. But that would be the final runs the White Sox would score, which wasn’t enough insurance for the bullpen. 

In the bottom of the eighth, Wilson Contreras tied the game with a two-run homer off Cam Booser. Booser then made a throwing error, allowing Nolan Gorman to reach first base, which turned out to be the difference. 

After getting Nolan Arenado to fly out to shortstop, Booser threw a wild pitch that allowed Nolan Gorman to advance to second, followed by a walk to Lars Nootbaar.

The southpaw had a chance to escape the inning after getting Jordan Walker to fly out to center, but with two outs, he surrendered an RBI single to pinch-hitter Yohel Pozo — the eventual game-winner.

Fierce Rally Falls Short

In Game 2, the White Sox struck early, courtesy of Ryan Noda’s first home run in a Sox uniform.

FIRST HOME RUN FOR RYAN NODA AS A #WHITESOX ‼️ pic.twitter.com/OzbJnRxmA4

— White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) June 19, 2025

But starter Mike Vasil got tagged for six runs in 3.2 innings of work to put the White Sox down by five after four innings. The 5-1 score would hold until the offense came alive in the seventh inning. 

Lenyn Sosa got the rally started with a leadoff single, followed by an Austin Slater single two batters later. With two outs in the inning, White Sox manager Will Venable called on Mike Tauchman to pinch hit for Taylor, and was rewarded with an RBI single from the former Bradley Brave that cut the lead to four. 

Chase Meidroth then drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases, which set the stage for Andrew Benintendi. Benintendi pounced on the first pitch he saw, a lazy 90 mph slider of the heart of the plate, which he sent 401 feet into left field for a game-tying grand slam. 

WELL ISN'T THAT JUST GRAND 😱 pic.twitter.com/22eZ1255zB

— White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) June 19, 2025

“I was just looking for something elevated in the zone and something to hit hard, and he hung a slider,” Benintendi told reporters after the game. 

The White Sox then had an opportunity to walk it off in the ninth after Mike Tauchman reached third with one out. However, Tauchman was thrown out at home plate after Vinny Capra hit a grounder to Arenado. The ten-time Gold Glove winner didn’t have to work hard to nab Tauchman, after he pulled up before the ball had even reached the plate. 

Venable said after the game that Tauchman was experiencing groin soreness, which forced him to leave the game. It was all-hands on deck in extra innings, with Slater being forced to move from left field to right field and White Sox catcher Kyle Teel being tapped to play left field. 

“It’s like riding a bike,” Teel said after the game. “Played outfield in college. Played for the collegiate national team in left and right. Shag out there all the time, so I was just hoping they would hit me a ball. I take pride in my athleticism and wherever the team needs me at any point.” 

Teel didn’t get his wish. Arenado delivered an RBI single to right, followed by a Lars Nootbar homer to right-center that put the game out of reach for the White Sox.

Despite the effort, coming up short in close games has been a recurring theme. With the doubleheader sweep, the White Sox fell to 4-21 in one-run games this season.“We’ve seen it time and time again from this group where they continue to fight,” Venable told MLB.com after the Game 2 loss. “Between the bullpen holding those guys right there and those quality at-bats leading up to the Benny grand slam, which obviously was a big knock, just a great job on a tough day for our guys.”