If you’re desperate to win a couple of games in a row and to take a series for the first time since Wilbur Wood was doing the pitching, it pays to pick your opponents. Last time the White Sox were successful at such things, the team doing the losing was the Rockies. This time, it’s the A’s. ’Nuff said.
This game was pretty well settled in the first inning, thanks to Oakland being the second-worst defensive team in the majors (we won’t mention who’s last). After Luis Robert Jr. walked, he took off too early on a steal attempt and was going to be picked off by 20 feet, so he made the smart move and headed to second.