TORONTO — Yusei Kikuchi struck out eight batters over 5 2/3 innings, Bo Bichette hit a solo dwelling run and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the slumping White Sox 8-0 on Wednesday to finish a three-game sweep, extending Chicago’s dropping streak to seven.
Blue Jays outfielder George Springer left within the fourth, one inning after he was hit on the correct hand by a pitch from White Sox right-hander Michael Kopech (0-3). X-rays didn’t reveal a fracture.
Cavan Biggio pinch hit for Springer however struck out to strand two runners.
Manager John Schneider mentioned the Blue Jays will benefit from Thursday’s off day to provide Springer some relaxation. Springer will likely be reevaluated earlier than Friday’s dwelling recreation towards Seattle.
“Off day comes at a good time for him,” Schneider mentioned.
Chicago has misplaced 9 of 10 and 15 of 19. Things aren’t getting any simpler for the White Sox, who host MLB-leading Tampa Bay in a four-game collection starting Thursday.
PHOTOS: Springer hurts hand, Blue Jays end sweep of White Sox 8-0
“We’re in a funk, and we have to come together as a team and figure out how to get out of it because this isn’t fun,” White Sox catcher Seby Zavala mentioned.
Chicago was blanked for the second-straight recreation and third time this season. The White Sox have three runs and 14 hits of their final 4 video games.
“We’ve got to be able to put runs on the board if we want to compete at this level,” supervisor Pedro Grifol mentioned. “We’re not doing that right now.”
Kikuchi (4-0) allowed 4 hits, all singles, and walked one in his third straight profitable begin. The left-hander has pitched no less than six innings in all three of these victories. He has allowed a couple of earned run solely as soon as in 5 begins in 2023.
Blue Jays starters have allowed 5 runs over 52 1/3 innings of their previous eight video games.
“Collectively, they’re throwing strikes and they’re executing their pitches,” Schneider mentioned.
Erik Swanson struck out all 4 batters he confronted, Yimi Garcia labored the eighth and Trevor Richards completed the four-hitter.
Ten of the ultimate 11 White Sox batters struck out, together with Eloy Jiménez, who fanned 4 occasions.
“We’ve got to clean that up,” Grifol mentioned. “We’ve got to be tougher outs.”
Bichette went 3 for 4 with three RBI and scored twice. He hit a first-pitch homer off Jimmy Lambert within the seventh, his fifth.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two doubles and two RBI as Toronto swept Chicago north of the border for the second straight season. The Blue Jays have gained six of eight and 15 of 21.
White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr., who got here in 1 for 21 on the street journey, hit a two-out single within the first however was thrown out at second after sliding previous the bag.
“He told me that he slid late, which carried him through the bag,” Grifol mentioned.
Kopech allowed 4 runs and 6 hits in 5 innings.
“I didn’t feel like I threw the ball terrible but the bottom line is I’ve got to throw better,” Kopech mentioned. “We’re in a tough spot right now and we needed a better start than that.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
White Sox: Grifol mentioned C Yasmani Grandal was out there off the bench. Grandal left Tuesday’s recreation within the seventh due to a sore decrease again.
Blue Jays: Espinal had three hits in his return to the lineup after lacking the previous three video games. Espinal left within the second inning of Saturday’s street loss to the Yankees after he was hit on the correct wrist by a pitch.
BACK-TO-BACK BLANKS
Chicago was held scoreless in consecutive video games for the primary time since April 21 and 22, 2017, when the White Sox had been blanked twice by Cleveland.
UP NEXT
White Sox: RHP Dylan Cease (2-0, 2.73) begins Thursday as Chicago returns dwelling for a four-game collection towards the Rays. Tampa Bay has not named a starter.
Blue Jays: RHP Alek Manoah (1-1, 5.13) begins Friday as Toronto opens a three-game collection towards Seattle, who swept the Blue Jays out of the wild card spherical final October. The Mariners haven’t named a starter.
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