White Sox lose 8-3 to the Mariners on Aug. 6 despite homers from Robert Jr. & Montgomery. A disastrous inning of stolen bases sealed Chicago's fate.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night of frustrating contrasts for the Chicago White Sox in Seattle. While the offense showed flashes of its immense power, including back-to-back home runs from Luis Robert Jr. and Colson Montgomery, it wasn't nearly enough to overcome a shaky start and a defensive breakdown, leading to a decisive 8-3 loss to the Mariners.
The Mariners stole four bases in the sixth inning, a franchise feat last accomplished in 2004, also against the White Sox.
The game started promisingly with a Lenyn Sosa solo shot in the first, but the lead was short-lived. Starter Davis Martin couldn't find his footing, ultimately getting tagged for six runs (five earned) in just over five innings. The real back-breaker came in the sixth, when the Mariners ran rampant on the basepaths, swiping an incredible four bases in the single frame. It was a painful display of being outplayed, as Seattle starter Bryan Woo baffled Sox hitters, striking out nine over seven dominant innings.
Despite the lopsided score, the bats did provide some late-inning fireworks. After Sosa's early homer, the ninth inning offered a glimpse of what could be. Luis Robert Jr. blasted a solo shot, and top prospect Colson Montgomery followed him by going deep for his first back-to-back homer experience in the big leagues. While it was too little, too late to affect the outcome, seeing Montgomery and Robert Jr. connect on consecutive pitches is a powerful reminder of the talent this team possesses, even on a tough night.
While the big-league club struggles for consistency, the future continues to develop down on the farm. Shortstop Caleb Bonemer, the team's second-round pick from 2024, is tearing it up at Single-A. In his last 18 games, Bonemer is hitting .261/.363/.493 with 10 extra-base hits. He now ranks among the Carolina League leaders in slugging (.428) and OPS (.816), providing a bright spot and a reminder that more help is on the way.
The South Siders will look to salvage a game against Seattle on Wednesday, sending Jonathan Cannon to the mound to face the tough George Kirby. It's another chance to build on the positive flashes and clean up the mistakes that continue to plague them. One game at a time, the focus shifts to tomorrow.
