Matt Foster is providing a boost out of the Chicago White Sox bullpen: ‘He took the bull by the horns’

Chicago White Sox reliever Matt Foster entered Wednesday’s City Series game in a tight spot.

The Sox led by a run in the eighth inning, but the Cubs had runners on first and third with one out and right fielder Seiya Suzuki at the plate.

“My first game plan coming in for Suzuki was just try to get something to keep it on the infield or obviously a strikeout would have been great,” Foster said.

Suzuki popped out to first baseman Gavin Sheets in foul territory.

Ian Happ was the next test.

“Preparing to face Happ and try to minimize the damage to none,” Foster said.

Nick Madrigal stole second, giving the Cubs two runners in scoring position. But Foster struck out Happ looking to end the threat.

The right-hander provided a big boost out of the Sox bullpen in the 4-3 win in front of 36,755 at Wrigley Field. Foster’s appearance of two-thirds of an inning was followed by Liam Hendriks, who retired the side in order in the ninth for his seventh save.

“I definitely love it,” Foster said of being in the high-leverage situation. “Get that big adrenaline rush, kind of the same when opening, you get the start. Those are two completely different things and I’m just thankful for any opportunity I can get up there, and get on the mound.”

Foster has made the most of those chances. He has a 0.77 ERA in 11 relief outings this season, allowing one run on seven hits with 10 strikeouts in 11⅔ innings.

“He’s making great pitches,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said.

Foster pitched in both games of the City Series. He struck out one in a 1-2-3 inning in Tuesday’s 3-1 victory and came back Wednesday and retired both batters he faced.

“The adjustments he’s made from last year, it’s unbelievable,” said Sox starter Lucas Giolito, Wednesday’s winning pitcher. “It’s such a good feeling to see that. He took the bull by the horns and now he’s back doing what he can do.”

Foster went 6-1 with a 2.20 ERA in 23 outings (two starts) during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He was 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA in 37 relief appearances last season.

“I think I’ve made big strides since last year,” Foster said. “I had a very tough year last year, up and down. Good days, bad days, probably more bad than good. It was really more of getting my head to the right place and not worrying about other things than what I need to be doing. I think I came a long way from that.”

His 2021 spring training was slowed by a groin injury.

“I’ve definitely gotten the lower half a lot stronger,” Foster said. “During the offseason I did a lot of things to strengthen the groin and prevent those kinds of injuries from happening. I think it’s showing right now.”

And he has continued to sharpen some of his pitches.

“I spent a lot of time playing around with a slider that I was messing around with last year, made some improvements to that,” Foster said. “I added a curveball that I actually threw when I was in junior college. I played with it some now, I don’t really throw it a whole lot. It’s just another weapon that I have in the pocket.”

All of the work has been paying off, as Wednesday’s outing proved.

“It’s a major confidence boost,” Foster said. “I try to take every opportunity to get out on the field that I can and not take it for granted. Just go out there and do the best that I can without letting outside things kind of interfere.

“We have a wide range of people down there (in the bullpen). It’s awesome to see everybody blend together. We have a good time down there, but when it’s time to come in, we’re down for business.”