The series itself had been a coin flip. Chicago and Cincinnati had split the first two games, so the finale carried real weight for a White Sox club still hanging around the edges of a crowded race.
Cincinnati came in having dropped 3 straight to Washington before salvaging a split here, so stealing the finale doubles as a bit of momentum. Chicago, which had taken 2 of 3 from Cleveland and won its last game before Thursday, turned this one into a track meet early — a 4-run inning put real distance on the board before the White Sox started clawing back, cutting the deficit with a 2-run answer and pulling within 1 in the ninth.
It wasn't enough. The Reds' bullpen made just enough pitches to shut the door and salvage the rubber match, leaving Chicago to stew on a game that got away early and nearly got stolen back late.
Neither club is out of contention, which is exactly why a game like this stings on one side and matters on the other. Both teams play again soon, and both rosters — one missing its top starter for the year, the other missing both catchers — will keep testing their depth in the meantime.