A pair of rookies will look to conclude their torrid finishes when the visiting Chicago White Sox and the Washington Nationals conclude their seasons on Sunday.
The Nationals (66-95) rallied for a 6-5 win over the White Sox (59-102) on Saturday.
Chicago rookie shortstop Colson Montgomery homered for the second straight game and finished a triple short of the cycle. The 23-year-old has hit safely in nine straight games, going 13-for-35 (.371) with three doubles, three home runs and six RBIs.
His 21 homers are the most by a primary shortstop through their first 70 career games in major league history.
“He’s been great,” manager Will Venable said. “We’ve seen and talked about the adjustments that he’s able to make. For him to just continue to put good swings on baseballs … he’s just proven that he can make adjustments and deal with the adversity.”
Meanwhile, Washington’s Daylen Lile continues to make a case for National League Rookie of the Year. The 22-year-old outfielder had a two-run homer, single and walk on Saturday, raising his average to .302.
Lile has now reached base in 23 of his last 25 games, batting .409 (38-for-93) with three doubles, seven triples, six home runs, 19 RBIs and 20 runs scored in that span. He’s in the top 10 among rookies in numerous categories.
Lile was initially called up in May but was sent down in early June with a .194 batting average. He was recalled in mid-June and has excelled.
“Coming back up here and just saying I’m going to enjoy every moment and not put pressure on myself … it’s worked out pretty good,” Lile said. “My confidence has been growing each and every day.”
In Sunday’s finale, the White Sox will send rookie right-hander Shane Smith (6-8, 3.98 ERA) against rookie right-hander Brad Lord (5-9, 4.12).
After getting pounded by the Orioles for six runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings of a loss on Sept. 16, Smith bounced back against the New York Yankees on Sept. 23, allowing a run on five hits in five innings of a no-decision.
Smith, who will be making his 29th start of the season, has never faced Washington.
Lord, who rejoined the rotation in August, has been one of the Nationals’ most reliable starters in September, going 1-1 with a 3.13 ERA in four starts. Last time out, he gave up two runs on four hits over six innings in a loss to the Atlanta Braves.
“It was good,” interim manager Miguel Cairo said. “He was throwing. Just a couple of fastballs that he left over the plate. But he was dealing. He pitched good.”
Lord has never faced Chicago.
Saturday, James Wood’s solo homer capped a three-run seventh inning as the Nationals rallied. Jacob Young’s two-run homer tied it, and Wood gave Washington the lead.
Wood added an RBI single with his third hit of the day in the eighth and that run was huge as closer Jose A. Ferrer allowed a run in the ninth.
Josh Bell had two doubles and a walk for the Nationals, who had three homers after hitting six on Friday night.
“Hard to keep them in the ballpark right now,” Venable said. “We’ve got to find a way to limit their damage. They’ve got a bunch of guys that are good hitters. They’re comfortable hitters, you can just feel it when they come to the plate. We’ve got to do a better job tomorrow.”