Jesse Winker drove in Tucker Barnhart with a single to center off closer Liam Hendriks in the 10th inning as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Chicago White Sox, 1-0, on Wednesday at Great American Ball Park.
Barnhart began the 10th at second and moved to third on a single to left by Nick Senzel. Winker followed with the game-winning hit.
Hendriks, who entered as part of a double switch in the ninth, began the 10th as the runner at second for the Sox. Yasmani Grandal walked and Leury García hit into a fielder’s choice, placing runners on the corners with one out for Billy Hamilton.
García got thrown out attempting to steal second, and Hamilton struck out to end the inning.
According to MLB.com, here is the extra-inning rule instated for the 2020 season: ”The runner placed on second base at the start of each half-inning shall be the player (or a substitute for such player) in the batting order immediately preceding that half-inning’s leadoff hitter. By way of example, if the number five hitter in the batting order is due to lead off the tenth inning, the number four player in the batting order (or a pinch runner for such player) shall begin the inning on second base. However, if the player in the batting order immediately preceding that half-inning’s leadoff hitter is the pitcher, the runner placed on second base at the start of that half-inning may be the player preceding the pitcher in the batting order. Any runner or batter removed from the game for a substitute shall be ineligible to return to the game, as is the case in all circumstances under the OBR.”
Asked if the umps explained anything like possibly starting with José Abreu, who was the preceding batter, on second base, La Russa said: “I didn’t know that. We all thought Liam was going to be the runner, and that’s what I wondered, a double switch to keep him in the game. If you look at Abreu or (Yoán) Moncada, that’s not who you want to double switch out of the game. I wasn’t aware that Abreu could have run. I thought it had to be the guy who made the last out, or that spot in the order.”
Later asked if he would have used Abreu as the runner, La Russa said, “Yeah, if I’d have known that. I didn’t know that. I have to check the rule. That was why the guys on the bench came out and questioned me about it, that Liam was going to be the runner. I said, ‘Yeah, I know.’ So we didn’t know.
“I know because if you look at the other guys you would double switch out of the game, those are not guys, (Andrew) Vaughn was the guy to come out. We got the out there in the ninth, but I’ll reread that situation. I’m guessing you know the rules better. Now I know.”
Both starters pitched exceptionally well.
Dallas Keuchel had his strongest outing of the season, limiting the Reds to two hits in seven scoreless innings. He struck out one and walked three.
Sonny Gray was just as effective for the Reds. He allowed two hits in seven innings, struck out eight and walked two.
Neither team took advantage of rare scoring chances early.
The Reds threatened in the first, placing runners on second and third with no outs. Joey Votto grounded to first and Abreu threw to the plate to get Senzel for the first out. Eugenio Suárez then grounded into a double play.
One of the best scoring opportunities for the Sox came in the second when they had runners on first and second with one out. Gray struck out García and Hamilton to end the threat.
Sox reliever Michael Kopech walked consecutive batters with two outs in the eighth before getting Kyle Farmer to pop out to shortstop Tim Anderson.
The Reds loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth. Hendriks entered and got Barnhart to ground to third, where Moncada stepped on the bag for the final out.
Winker came through in the 10th for the Reds as the teams split the two-game series.
