White Sox’ offense disappears, team swept in Cleveland for second time this season

CLEVELAND — White Sox designated hitter Andrew Benintendi stepped to the plate in the ninth inning Sunday with his team down a run and runners on first and third.

Benintendi swung at the first pitch and hit a grounder up the middle that took three bounces and looked like it was going to get through for a hit. But Guardians second baseman Brayan Rocchio made an outstanding diving stop and threw to first to end the game.

The play summed up the series for the Sox, who lost 3-2 and were swept in Cleveland for the second time this season.

“I yelled because I thought it was through,” second baseman Chase Meidroth said.

The Guardians’ pitching and defense stifled what had been a formidable Sox offense in the second half. The Sox were outscored 10-3 in the three-game set.

“It really kind of symbolized what we saw today with some balls hit well for us early, especially, and some really nice defense by [the Guardians],” manager Will Venable said.

Meidroth’s hitting streak

After Meidroth got off to a blistering start to his career, which saw him rack up hits and bat .260 with solid defense at shortstop and second base, he fell into a funk in July. He batted .220 in 23 games, but he took the slump in perspective.

“It’s been very important going through those ups and downs and just battling that for that first 162-game season,” Meidroth told the Sun-Times.

Meidroth watched film with the hitting coaches but ultimately stuck with his approach from the beginning of the season. His measured approach comes naturally, but it’s also easier to have that mentality knowing he’s going to be in the lineup most days. Meidroth now is on a 10-game hitting streak.

The Sox’ season has been filled with losses, but their young players have shown flashes of promise.

“Just the overall relentlessness of [the season], there’s no days off up here, and it makes your preparation that much more important,” veteran right fielder Mike Tauchman told the Sun-Times. “[The season] really forces you to figure out who you are as a player [and] self-evaluate your deficiencies in the game.”

Meidroth played in 131 games at Triple-A with the Sox’ and Red Sox’ organizations. He was going to face adversity in the majors, but it was more valuable for him to learn those lessons there. For players like Meidroth, the majors are the first place where they’ve struggled in their career. Learning how to handle that is an essential part of developing.

Gomez returns to Cleveland

Cleveland was the site of right-hander Yoendrys Gomez’s last appearance with the Yankees before being designated for assignment and claimed by the Dodgers.

After three outings with the Dodgers, Gomez was DFA’d again before being claimed by the Sox. On Sunday, Gomez allowed two runs and two hits, striking out four and walking one in five innings.

“The beginning was a little hard,” Gomez said through an interpreter. “You don’t want to be in that position, but I kept working hard, and [the Sox] gave me an opportunity, and I’m just taking full advantage of it.”