White Sox manager Tony La Russa said costly decision to intentionally walk Trea Turner on 1-2 count 'wasn't a tough call'

In Chicago's 11-9 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, Tony La Russa said that Max Muncy broke open the game with a three-run home run after he ordered an intentional walk to Trea Turner.

La Russa ordered the intentional walk to the right-handed-hitting Turner, who had a single, after the left-handed-hitting Bennett Sousa threw a wild pitch that allowed the second baseman to score from second base.

A fan yelled "He's got two strikes!"

Muncy, whose two-run double off Dylan Cease put the Dodgers ahead 4-5 in the fifth, worked the count to 2-2 and sliced a pitch to the opposite field and into the left-field seats.

After the game, La Russa said he doesn't believe he did anything wrong.

There is a question about whether that was a good move or not. The 77-year-old La Russa is a Hall of Fame pitcher. Turner hits against left-handed pitchers with one or two strikes. Muncy hits two strikes against a left-handed pitcher. Is that a real question? When we had an open base, Muncy was behind us and that was a better match up.

Someone disagrees, but they're welcome to do so. That wasn't a difficult decision.

Turner has a career batting average of.254 after a 1-2 count against a lefty pitcher, but this season he is hitting.333 in such situations.

Muncy, who had five RBIs in his return after missing 11 games, entered hitting.150 to Turner's.303.

Muncy said that he got it. My year has sucked up so far. Trea has been great.

Muncy said he would just leave it at that. I don't know if walking someone with two strikes is a good idea.

It gave me something that I haven't had in a long time. I have always been the guy who was very fiery and had an edge. It felt good to get that back.

Turner said he was thrown off by the decision.

Turner thought he was confused. I was unsure if I should go first or not.

Daniel Hudson needed 35 pitches to get through the ninth, but it wasn't enough for the White Socks to avoid defeat. With two on and one out, Grandal popped out, and Sheets struck the ball, ending the game.

The AP contributed.