This season has been a nightmare for the White Sox. They’re tied for the third-worst record in the majors at 10–22. During one particularly terrible stretch last month, they lost 10 in a row and 15 out of 17. It was bad enough to inspire one of the most impressive sports radio rants you’ll ever hear.
But things were looking up a bit this week. After earning a walk-off win over the Rays on Sunday, Chicago took the first two games of its series against the Twins on Tuesday and Wednesday. Then, on Thursday, the South Siders were in position to finish off the sweep.
The Sox loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10th against Minnesota pitcher Brock Stewart. Infielder Hanser Alberto was at the plate and Stewart—who had already thrown a wild pitch earlier in the inning—ran a fastball well inside on Alberto. The pitch hit him on the forearm.
There was only one problem, though. Alberto swung at the pitch. Instead of a hit-by-pitch that would force in the winning run, Alberto struck out.
Hanser Alberto nearly had a walk-off HBP in the 10th inning, but it was called a strikeout#WhiteSoxIn60 pic.twitter.com/ddDhz8g1Qj
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) May 5, 2023
Stewart then got Elvis Andrus to strike out, ending the inning. After a scoreless 11th, Chicago’s bullpen imploded in the 12th, allowing five runs as the White Sox lost 7–2.
Alberto took the unfortunate strikeout in stride, though.
“I [didn’t] mean to swing,” he told reporters after the game with a smile. “I know it’s [going to be] a fastball because I took two sliders. I was ready. I meant to get away, but I didn’t know how to get away.
“The ball got right on me, but it’s part of the game. It’s tough. It was a reflex. Should be a hit-by-pitch and win the ballgame right there.”
