Chicago White Sox have a rough opening weekend
It was a rough opening series for the Chicago White Sox.
This weekend was supposed to be an exciting time for Chicago White Sox fans. Instead, it was a weekend full of disappointment, and potentially adjusted expectations, after they got drubbed by the Minnesota Twins in two of the three games of the series.
Before the first pitch was thrown by Lucas Giolito (which coincidentally was deposited in the seats for a home run) White Sox fans were brimming with excitement.
And why shouldn’t they have been? There are many reasons to be optimistic about this season — including a surplus of young, exciting, talented players.
And while it is just one series, the South Siders certainly did not look good over the past three days.
The Sox got doubled up in the opener, 10-5. The aforementioned Giolito lasted only 3.2 innings, giving up seven earned runs, striking out three and walking three.
They got one back in game two, winning 10-3 on the back of a strong performance from Dallas Keuchel and a four RBI game from Leury Garcia. Keuchel turned in 5.1 solid innings, scattering three hits and yielding 2 earned runs.
On Sunday, Reynaldo Lopez was on the bump trying to take the rubber match. Unfortunately for the White Sox, they were blitzed early by the Twins who scored the first 10 runs of the game. Lopez lasted only 2/3 of an inning (left early with an injury) giving up four runs before he gave way to Gio Gonzalez.
Gonzalez lasted a little longer (3.2 innings) but gave up six runs on seven hits. On the other side, the Sox managed only six hits and two runs which both came on a Luis Robert home run — the only positive of the game for the team.
Adam Engel chipped in three hits, which was great but for the reason he was in the game in the first place. Engel entered the game for Eloy Jimenez who crashed into the wall chasing a Jake Cave grand slam in the first inning. Jimenez was lightheaded and exited the game in the second inning.
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Hopefully, for the White Sox, it is nothing that will linger. However, it was just another unfortunate occurrence in an otherwise forgettable weekend. They won’t have much time to dwell on it as they turn around and have to play the Cleveland Indians later tonight. They’ll need to turn it around in a hurry or it may be time to readjust those lofty expectations.