Cleveland relief pitcher James Karinchak earned his seventh save of the season against the White Sox on Tuesday night, but it wasn't easy.
Entering the game with a three-run lead, thanks to a strong early offensive showing throughout the first half of the game — and no thanks to this insane Billy Hamilton double/error/little-league home run off of Shane Bieber — Karinchak had to go through eight batters in order to get the job done. He gave up four singles and a walk while allowing two runs in that final frame of the game, just barely holding on to the lead before finally getting Jose Abreu out on a grounder. Crisis averted, but again, not without some adversity...
...and not without some controversy. White Sox announcer Steve Stone couldn't stop himself from calling out Karinchak for what seemed to be the use of a sticky substance in his glove, an act which would surprise absolutely no one in today's game but is still worthy or reprimand. After all, it's just not allowed, though that hasn't stopped pitchers from finding ways to do so. And this is by no means conclusive evidence of Karinchak doing anything illegal, but it sure doesn't look completely innocent.
One has to wonder how Terry Francona would have reacted had the umpires found a sticky substance in Karinchak's glove on his way out to the mound for the save, à la the Giovanny Gallegos situation from another recent game. If he had a reaction similar to that of Cardinals skipper Mike Shildt... man, get that popcorn out.
Related
This isn't the first time that Karinchak has been the subject of suspicion, though the first sleuths were not opposing broadcasters. Instead, Twitter detectives were raising their eyebrows at a motion he kept repeating as he went to his glove in another Cleveland-Chicago matchup (h/t Tony Marchese of On Tap Sports Net).
If there is anything going on there, it sure doesn't seem to be helping Karinchak after his insanely strong start to the year. After allowing a grand total of zero runs and striking out 22 batters in 12 appearances throughout April, Karinchak's May (and June 1) ERA is 5.14, bringing his season ERA to 2.92. We'll see if he can get back to early season form.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram