The White Sox had their opener today with Vince Velasquez on the mound and turned around a nice win with the ability of Luis Robert at every aspect of the game
Velasquez pitched well in his White Sox debut, giving up two hits, one run, three walks, and three strikeouts in four innings. The bullpen looked great today with Sousa pitching 2/3 of an inning, Lopez got the win with 1 2/3 innings, and the one-two-three punch of Bummer, Gravemen, and Hendriks closing it out. Hendriks was a bit shaky in the last inning, giving up three hits and a run, but showed his dominant side with all outs being strikeouts to get his first save of the season.
The bats were a bit quiet but took the lead in the sixth on a home run by Luis Robert. Robert finished the day 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs. Reese McGuire was solid at the plate with a pair of singles. Abreu, Grandal, and Engel all had hits today as well. Tim Anderson had an RBI to tie the game with a fielder’s choice to short and Sheets was hitless, filling in for the injured Pollock.
With the win, the White Sox improve to 3-1 on the young season.
W: Lopez (1-0) | L: Brash (0-1) | S: Hendriks (1)
Statcast Breakdown
Box Score
Offensive Recap:
Pitching Recap:
Scoring Recap:
- Bottom 3rd: Anderson grounded into a fielders choice to shortstop, Harrison scored on an error, McGuire safe at second on a fielding error by shortstop Crawford
- Bottom 6th: Robert homered to right-center (408 feet)
- Bottom 8th: Jimenez grounded into fielder’s choice to shortstop, Robert scored, Abreu out at second
Notable Performances
Luis Robert: 1-for-3, 2 runs, 1 walk, 1 RBI, 2 SB
Luis Robert played very well on both sides of the field as well as the basepaths. He made a great play in centerfield to rob an extra-base hit away. He demolished a ball to right-center in sixth. He later stole second and third and went on to score in the bottom of the eighth. Robert showed exactly why they called him the “Cuban Mike Trout” when he was a prospect.
Kendall Gravemen: 1 IP, 1 SO
Kendall Gravemen pitched solid in the hold today. Letting up only one hit and a solid strikeout to end the inning.
Eloy Jimenez: 0-for-4, RBI
Eloy didn’t have the best game at the plate, but he had a really nice play in left field and showed off the jets by beating out a play at first to score Robert.
Other Highlights
Hendriks strikeout to win the game
Aaron Bummer showing his nasty slider as only he does
Next Matchup
The White Sox are still at home tomorrow for the second game of the homestand. Dallas Keuchel is set to take on Robby Ray.
First pitch is 6:10 and the game will be on NBCSports Chicago.
