DENVER — The White Sox lost Sunday’s battle against the Rockies but won the weekend war of the two worst teams in Major League Baseball.
All-Star pitcher Shane Smith served up a 421-foot leadoff home run to Rockies center fielder Mickey Moniak, who later tagged him for a two-run triple as the Sox squandered an opportunity for their first sweep of the season against lowly Colorado.
Colson Montgomery continued a career-opening hot streak with a single in the second inning, but the afternoon proved to be a mixed bag for the Sox’ prized rookie.
Montgomery drew a walk in the fourth inning and advanced to second on a Rockies error before being doubled off second on an Edgar Quero lineout. Then the shortstop notched his second career RBI with a one-out single in the fifth — but promptly got picked off first by reliever Zach Agnos.
It was a decent afternoon for other cogs of the Sox’ youth movement, too, as a Chase Meidroth grounder caromed off second base for a double to score Quero in the third inning.
Montgomery finished his first big-league weekend 5-for-10 with a triple and two RBI to go with his highlight-reel diving catch during his debut Friday.
“I feel like each day and each at-bat I’m a little more comfortable,” he said, looking forward to his first Sox home game Monday against the Blue Jays.
The Sox (30-60) had locked up their ninth series win of the season with the victory Saturday.
Last year’s record-losing Sox squad won nine series all year — and this year’s Rockies (21-69) are running five games behind that team’s pace toward the bottom of the history book.
Taylor nailing it down
Rookie flame-thrower Grant Taylor’s triple-digit velocity is his strongest asset. But the rookie right-hander showed his short memory could be valuable, too.
Taylor bounced back from a rough outing last week against the Dodgers to notch his third save of the season Friday, giving him the team lead in that category less than a month after being called up from Double-A.
The 2023 draft pick, who played at LSU with current Pirates ace Paul Skenes, had started six games in Birmingham, but he’s embracing the back end of the bullpen.
“The phone rings, you hear your name, and it’s your save opportunity — that adrenaline rush is just insane,” Taylor said.
Colorado convalescence
Injured starter Davis Martin said he was “feeling as good as I’ve felt in a long time” after throwing a 31-pitch bullpen Sunday.
He’ll meet the Triple-A Charlotte squad in Memphis this week for a rehab start and hopes to rejoin the big-league rotation after the All-Star break. A strained forearm has kept Martin (2-7, 3.79 ERA) out of action since June 12.
Center fielder Luis Robert Jr. also is nearing a return after another pregame round of fielding practice in his recovery from a hamstring injury. He has missed nine games.
“I think he got up over 90% of his max speed, so I’m expecting him to have another good day and push it,” manager Will Venable said.
