The Chicago White Sox faced a tough match on Thursday, narrowly averting a no-hitter thanks to a seventh-inning single from designated hitter Andrew Benintendi. This single was the team’s only hit in a 2-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves at Rate Field, witnessed by 17,052 fans.

White Sox manager Will Venable praised Braves starter Grant Holmes for his performance, acknowledging his efficiency in controlling the pitching zone. “Holmes did a remarkable job keeping pitches in challenging areas,” Venable commented. The single by Benintendi came against Holmes, who maintained strong control throughout the game.

Everyone we saw was really good, starting with Holmes. There were few hittable pitches, and while we had some solid swings, hits were scarce,” Venable added. “We simply couldn’t generate enough offense with just one hit late in the game.

In an impressive collaborative effort, Holmes and three relievers combined to hold the White Sox to a one-hitter. Holmes registered three strikeouts and three walks over six-plus innings. “The slider worked well,” said Sox catcher Drew Romo, reflecting on Holmes’ effective pitching.

This game served as a makeup date for a previously postponed match due to June 11 storms. Despite the weekday rescheduling, Venable appreciated the fan support. “The fans offered great energy for a midweek game,” he noted.

The game nearly became historic for Holmes, who shared his mindset during the match: It felt like I could pitch anywhere and they’d hit into an out. My focus was on quickly filling the zone and securing outs.

Holmes ensured strong initial resistance, retiring the initial five White Sox batters before allowing a walk in the second inning. The White Sox couldn’t secure another base runner until the sixth, with Romo earning a walk. Despite some hard-hit balls, like Miguel Vargas’ line-out to third and Braden Montgomery’s to first, hits were elusive.

Trailing 2-0 by the seventh, Vargas reached base via walk, followed by Benintendi’s single on a slider, marking the sole hit. Holmes, wrapping up with 94 pitches, then handed over to relief pitcher Didier Fuentes. Even with runners at first and second and no outs, Fuentes skillfully denied the White Sox further opportunities, striking out three successive batters.

On the defensive side, Anthony Kay delivered a solid performance for the Sox. In six-plus innings, he allowed two runs on five hits while striking out six and issuing one walk. “Our game plan was effective,” Kay said, referencing his collaboration with catcher Drew Romo.

Venable highlighted the effectiveness of Kay’s sweeper pitch. Kay explained his adjustments since his last outing, leading to successful results: We focused on refining the release, and I was pleased with how it translated into the game.

Offensively, Austin Riley led the Braves with two RBIs. He hit a double in the third inning and an RBI single in the seventh, driving in Michael Harris II.

Despite missed scoring opportunities, the Braves emerged victorious. Kay acknowledged that maintaining competitiveness is necessary in facing formidable teams like the Braves. These guys are tough. You need to be at your best against everyone in this league. We were prepared, but things didn’t align well for us this time, he said.