The Chicago White Sox had a historic moment on Wednesday when closer Michael Kopech pitched an immaculate inning, striking out three batters on the minimum nine pitches. This accomplishment marked the club’s first immaculate inning since Hollis “Sloppy” Thurston achieved the feat on Aug. 23, 1923.
Kopech’s performance came in the opener of a doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins, where he secured the win for the team. This impressive outing was a much-needed confidence boost for Kopech, who had been struggling with inconsistency in his previous outings.
Reflecting on his immaculate inning, Kopech commented, “You could definitely say I needed that. It’s been a tough stretch. Just felt a little bit inconsistent. Had a game plan that I’ve been tentative to lean on, and we finally leaned into it the last couple days.”
Despite the White Sox’s struggles this season, positive developments like Kopech’s performance have provided a glimmer of hope for the team. With the Pittsburgh Pirates coming to town for the upcoming series, the White Sox are looking to build on their recent successes.
The White Sox will rely on All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet to lead the pitching staff against the Pirates. Crochet, who leads the majors with 146 strikeouts, has been a reliable force on the mound for the White Sox this season.
On the other side, the Pirates are coming off a series win against the Milwaukee Brewers and will be looking to continue their momentum against the White Sox. With both teams eager to secure a series win, the upcoming games promise to be competitive and exciting for fans.
As the White Sox and Pirates prepare to face off, the stage is set for an intriguing matchup between two teams with different aspirations for the season. With Kopech’s immaculate inning setting the tone for the series, baseball fans can expect an exciting showdown between these two competitive teams.
