It feels like every time I write a recap, I have to tip my cap to Luis Robert. The White Sox offense has struggled all year, but it feels like they would be even worse without their Cuban center fielder. Robert was able to first put the Sox on the board in the 3rd, helped tie the game in the 5th, and put up some insurance runs in the 8th.
Yet, for an offense that finally was able to score more than three runs and had 14 hits on the day, it still looked shaky. The White Sox didn’t have an extra base hit until Robert’s homer in the 8th, and the team still left 11 men on base. Putting up this many runs, even against a team like the Kansas City Royals, is good and should be lauded, but the offense still feels like it has a way to go before it is clicking on all cylinders.
On the pitching side, Vince Velasquez got the start for the South Siders and did not have his best stuff this afternoon. He’s been solid in his past few starts, so I guess a stat line of giving up 4 ER in 5.0 IP should have been expected? VV only struck out three Royals, but managed to do so against one walk. However, it was enough to keep the White Sox in the ball game as the offense slowly climbed their way to the lead. Bennett Sousa pitched the 6th, Joe Kelly pitched the 7th, and Kendall Graveman pitched the 8th. All men did so without giving up a run, though oddly, none of them struck anyone out either.
Liam Hendriks earned his 12th save on the year. He gave up two singles and still feels a bit shaky, but he also didn’t allow a run and still helped the Sox crawl back to .500.
W: Bennett Sousa (1-0) | L: Gabe Spieier (0-1) | S: Liam Hendriks (12)
StatCast Breakdown
Box Score
Offensive Recap:
Pitching Recap:
White Sox Scoring Recap:
Top 3rd: Luis Robert singled to center. Tim Anderson scored. 3-1 Royals.
Top 4th: Tim Anderson singled to center. Reese McGuire and Andrew Vaughn scored. 4-3 Royals.
Top 5th: Luis Robert singled to center. Josh Harrison scored. 4-4 tie.
Top 7th: Adam Engel singled to center. AJ Pollock scored. 5-4 White Sox.
Top 8th: Luis Robert homers to left center. Yoan Moncada scores. 7-4 White Sox.
Notable Performances
Luis Robert: 3 for 4, HR, 4 RBI, R
I honestly don’t have any more words left to say to praise this man. He’s excellent, and he’s only getting better.
Tim Anderson: 2 for 3, 2 BB, 2 RBI, R, 2 SB
If you are rostering Tim Anderson on your fantasy baseball team, you are probably very happy with the stat line he produced today. As they they say, TA is the straw that stirs the drink of the White Sox offense.
Josh Harrison: 2 for 5, R
A multi-hit day for the Sox second baseman today deserves a nice golf clap. For a team that should have firepower elsewhere in the line up, two hits from their #9 hitter should be considered gravy.
The Next Match Up
After a four game home stand with the New York Yankees last weekend, the White Sox travel to the Bronx to begin a three game series with the AL East leading Evil Empire. It will be a battle of southpaws as Dallas Keuchel is expected to start for the White Sox against Nestor Cortes for the Yankees. The game is scheduled to begin at 6:05 central time on NBC Sports Chicago.
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