repeat mistake – The White Sox were routed 12-2 by the Yankees in the Bronx, but the play that stuck came from first baseman Jacob Gonzalez. In the third inning, he strayed too far from the bag on a ball by Anthony Volpe, a misstep that helped ignite a Yankees surge. Gonzalez
NEW YORK — Tuesday night in the Bronx never really settled into one storyline for the White Sox. Bad baseball showed up early and kept showing up, ending in a 12-2 blowout loss to the Yankees.
But one moment carried a heavier weight for Chicago because it wasn’t just new. It was familiar. And right-hander Davis Martin was left to take the hits.
With the score 1-1 in the third inning, the Yankees had Yankees catcher and No. 8 hitter J.C. Escarra on second after a leadoff double. Shortstop Anthony Volpe grounded to second baseman Chase Meidroth. Rookie first baseman Jacob Gonzalez. playing his position more than he did in college and the minors combined. strayed too far from the bag and allowed Volpe to reach.
The inning kept moving. After first baseman Ben Rice walked to load the bases, left fielder Cody Bellinger delivered a two-run single. Designated hitter Paul Goldschmidt struck out. but second baseman Jazz Chisholm walked to load the bases again and Martin followed with a walk to center fielder Spencer Jones for another run. Right fielder Jose Caballero added a sacrifice fly, bringing home the fourth run of the inning.
Things turned more permanent in the fourth. Rice and Goldschmidt hit two-run homers, and the rout was on.
Gonzalez later owned the mistake without trying to dress it up. With the Yankees scoring and the play already decided. he explained what he was thinking and what he knew he should’ve done. “I thought it was going to get through, so I went to cut off [the throw] home,” Gonzalez said. “I should’ve went to the base first, then the cut off. I feel really bad. It’s never going to happen again.”.
Then came the part that made it hard for Chicago to shrug it off. Gonzalez said something very similar after a mistake on June 2 against the Twins.
In that earlier game, Gonzalez broke to field a ball that was bunted back to Martin instead of retreating to the bag. When Martin fielded it, Gonzalez didn’t get back to the base in time, and the batter reached—helping spark a Twins comeback.
Gonzalez described it that day in nearly the same language of intention and regret. “I know I should’ve gone to the base first and turned around. but [Davis] was looking at me already; I’ll just catch it and touch the base as I’m catching it. And I just wasn’t where I was supposed to be. … Hopefully it never happens again.”.
This time, the calendar had moved on, but the defensive problem didn’t.
And the Sox are not ignoring what’s behind it. This isn’t about picking on a rookie learning a new job. Gonzalez primarily played shortstop in college and the minors. a position general managers—including the Sox’ Chris Getz—often move players away from. The idea is simple: shortstops can be among the most talented players, but their athleticism and skill can travel. Still, the trade comes with a cost.
Gonzalez is playing first base now, and his numbers tell you how unfamiliar the switch is. He has played more games at first for the Sox (13) than he did in college and the minors combined (six).
Sox manager Will Venable framed it that way, calling it a learning experience rather than a character flaw. “Negotiating that ball to his right is something that we talked about early that can be difficult when you’re deciding to go for it or not. ” Venable said. “Haven’t seen that one where Chase had that ball and [Gonzalez] thought it would’ve gone through. so [it’s a] learning experience. Probably won’t do that again.”.
That’s the hope: that Tuesday night was one more lesson, not a recurring one.
Martin, for his part, tried to keep the tone steady. He prolonged the inning himself with two walks, but he also offered a teammate’s message after the damage. “Guys are going to pick me up; I have to pick them up.”
Still, even he pointed to the part of the night that hurt most. “The first two innings, outside of one pitch [a home run by Jones], felt really good,” Martin said. “Things unraveled pretty quickly. Losing the zone is my biggest frustration of tonight. Can’t get nitpicky there in the third and fourth.”.
Before the game, Martin entered with the sixth-best ERA in the majors at 2.41. He left with it at 3.31.
With first baseman Munetaka Murakami out for about another month, Gonzalez figures to stay at the position. That’s where the stakes get real for Chicago—especially with the Sox competing for a playoff spot, because defensive mistakes tend to be magnified when every inning matters.
Murakami’s absence also changes the context. It was a new position for him too, but he still leads the team with 20 home runs. The Sox will keep shifting priorities, but Gonzalez’s job in the field is one that can’t be deferred.
Tuesday’s loss wasn’t defined by one play in the simple sense. It was a blowout built from multiple problems.
But for Gonzalez, the same kind of error appears to be finding him again. And for the Sox, with games that already carry playoff pressure, that’s exactly what won’t stay small for long.
White Sox Yankees Jacob Gonzalez Davis Martin Anthony Volpe Chase Meidroth J.C. Escarra Jazz Chisholm Cody Bellinger Ben Rice Paul Goldschmidt Spencer Jones Jose Caballero Munetaka Murakami Will Venable Chris Getz