Tomoyuki Sugano didn't look great in his final start of the season for the Colorado Rockies, and the Chicago Whtie Sox took advantage.
In taking the mound on Friday night in Chicago, Tomoyuki Sugano had a chance to end his 2026 MLB season on a good note.
It didn't happen as Sugano allowed four runs in 6.2 innings and the Colorado Rockies' offense was non-existent, so the Chicago White Sox went ahead and won 6-1. Friday night's game took place at Rate Field, located on the south side of Chicago.
Sugano finished his season with a 12-12 record, showing signs of weakness as the season has come to an end. He's been one of, if not the, best starting pitchers in the Colorado rotation. Seeing him come up another loss is disappointing.
TJ Rumfield hits homer for Rockies
TJ Rumfield's solo home run in the top of the second inning was the lone run that the Rockies scored. Rumfield now has 16 home runs this season.
Colorado was 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left five total runners on base. The White Sox were 2-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left three runners on base. The opportunities for the Rockies to get some more runs home were not there.
White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami hit two home runs off Rockies pitching, giving him 35 home runs on the season. Murakami has been a central player in getting the White Sox into the American League postseason playoffs after three straight 100-plus losing seasons.
This has been quite a turnaround for a team that has been looked upon as one of the dregs in the entire baseball world.
So, it should give Rockies fans some hope after having to go through four straight seasons of 100-plus losses.
Juan Mejia not sharp for Colorado
After Sugano was pulled, Brennan Bernardino came out of the bullpen and got an out. When Juan Mejia came on, though, he worked the eighth inning and gave up four hits and two earned runs.
That bullpen just needs a lot of help in the offseason. One does not know what Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and general manager Josh Byrnes will do, but this is one of their top priorities.
White Sox starter Sean Burke was really focused in on his work on Friday night. He worked 5.1 innings and only gave up Rumfield's home run. The Chicago bullpen did not flinch, keeping Colorado hitters off the scoreboard.
There are two more games left in this season for Colorado, one that has had a few signs of improvement, but they did not transfer into more victories.
