From Quick Game to Long Game

Marwin Gonzalez has been on-base machine against the White Sox.

So for everyone that has ever played the lovely game of APBA Baseball, and for those that have been playing it for a very long time, all know the 'joys' of quick games suddenly transforming into longer or long games.

When playing a massive season project, such as I am with the 2018 MLB Projections Season, we (the rollers) are usually rooting for a quick one, and there is nothing more frustrating than pitchers duels suddenly turning into "we never want to leave the park"baseball.

Case in point, it's April 21st on my MLB Schedule between the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox, the series is in Chicago. The Astros won Game 1 (the previous night) easily behind great pitching by (who else?) Justin Verlander (8 IP, 5 H, 1 R & 9 K). Game 2 (April 21st) featured a lop-sided pitching match-up between Houston's Dallas Keuchel (Grade B-Y) and  Chicago's Reynaldo Lopez (Grade D-Z).

Reynaldo would actually hold his own, going 5 scoreless innings (3 hits allowed), which is great for him because he can be promoted to a Grade C... the bad news is that he got injured on the last out of that inning covering first base & will now miss the next 8 games.

The first 6 innings there was no scoring by either team, the next three innings would be teeter-top madness, and you all know exactly what I mean, if you played this game long enough you will see the wackiest things unfold.

The Houston Astros struck first with an RBI double by Yuri Gurriel during the top of the 7th, the White Sox answered back with a two-run homer by rookie Daniel Palka, who by the end of the game, had one heck of a rookie debut.

Down 2-1, top of the 8th -- The White Sox relievers Juan Minaya and Gregory Infante would team-up to give up 5 runs, the capper being a Grand Slam by Carlos Correa (off of Infante)... So Game over, Astros' bullpen closes the game out, right? RIGHT?!?!

Nope.

Brad Peacock came back in to pitch the 8th, after two quick outs in the 7th. He would walk two batters & leave men on 1st & 2nd for Welington Castillo. Castillo's card has a lot of pop, and I believe his HR rate for this Projections Season is even better than his 2017 rate at this point, so Houston calls on Will Harris (Grade B-XYZ, but bumped up to A-XYZ for 1st batter) to face him, hoping for a double-play... nope, three-run home run & the White Sox are now only down by a single run. The White Sox would follow that with back-to-back-to-back doubles by Matt Davidson, Daniel Palka & Tim Anderson (Palka and Anderson with ribbies) to take a 7-6 lead after 8 innings.

White Sox call on their closer Joakim Soria, but a two-base, one-out error by Daniel Palka in left opened up another scoring threat, with Jose Altuve capitalizing on the opportunity two batters later.

The 10th & 11th Innings would be silent, until the 12th.

Top of the 12th, Marwin Gonzalez and George Springer each hit two-run home runs (both off of Luis Avilan) to give the Astros a 11-7 lead...

Once again, the White Sox don't go away quietly, the Astros' closer in a non-save situation (4 runs up), would allow a lead-off HR to Avisail Garcia. Garcia's home run was followed by two quick outs in Jose Abreu (Fly-out) and Welington Castillo (pop-out). With one more out to get, Matt Davidson and Daniel Palka would hit back-to-back home runs, to make it once again, a one-run game. Houston calls on Hector Rondon & he closes the door on Tim Anderson & the White Sox.

Marwin Gonzalez has been an on-base machine against the White Sox, reaching base 10 times out of 11 plate appearances during the first two games of this series. He went 5-for-5, with a double & 3 RBI during the first game, while he drew 3 walks, 2 hits & 3 RBI (including his 12th Inning two-run HR).

White Sox' rookie Daniel Palka had an impressive MLB debut going 4-for-6, with 2 HR, 2B, 4 RBI & 3 runs.

The Houston Astros improve to 17-5, while the Chicago White Sox fall to 9-12.