On Thursday night, the horror season for the Chicago White Sox reached a new low. At Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, the White Sox were behind the Baltimore Orioles 8–6 in the bottom of the ninth inning with just one out.
With runners on first and second, Andrew Benintendi of the White Sox was the likely winner at the plate. Under the infield fly rule, Benintendi popped out to Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson. However, White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn, who was the runner at second base, was thrown out for interfering, denying him another chance at a thrilling comeback victory. What looked like it would be a thrilling conclusion came to an incredibly un-climactic climax.
John Schriffen, the White Sox announcer, was taken aback by the umpires’ decision. Adrian Johnson, the crew chief, came under fire from Schriffen for letting the game conclude on such a strange note. No, this is not how the game can end! Not at all! Adrian Johnson, you have to take command of this as the crew chief. This cannot be how the game concludes,” Schriffen remarked.
Vaughn was hit for what appeared to be a simple attempt to return to second base. Henderson was momentarily delayed by Vaughn, although it didn’t appear to be on purpose. Before the game was ended by an unassisted double play, the White Sox had rallied from an 8-2 deficit and scored four runs in the ninth inning.