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White Sox: Gonzalez’s Gem, Backed by Davidson’s 4 RBI’s Leads to 12-1 Win

By Rob Hill

Apr 14, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Matt Davidson (24) hits a single in the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The White Sox won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 14, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Matt Davidson (24) hits a single in the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The White Sox won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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White Sox rout division rival Royals behind dominant performance from Miguel Gonzalez. The South Siders climbed back to .500 with the win.

Welcome back to the lineup, Matt Davidson.

The 26-year-old third baseman wasn’t in the lineup the past four games. Prior to returning back to the lineup Monday night against the Kansas City Royals, Davidson had been on a tear. He entered Monday recording a .324/.333/.676 slash line to go along with a team leading three home runs and 10 runs batted in. Could the Sox receive another impressive start out of their young third baseman?

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The answer to that question, is yes. Davidson padded the stat sheet once again as he would finish the night a triple short of the cycle. In fact, he took command of the team lead with his 4th home run off Royals lefty Jason Vargas, and would end the night with 4 runs batted in to bring his early season total to 14.

What might be the most impressive stat to come out of Davidson’s night on Monday, was how hard he hit the ball. According to CSN Dan Hayes, all of Davidson’s three hits were belted at over 103 MPH or harder. He is now hitting .368 on the season in 40 plate appearances.

It was not just the Matt Davidson show at Guaranteed Rate Field Monday night. The Sox would total 15 hits on the night and would receive multi-hit efforts from Tim Anderson, Leury Garcia, and Jose Abreu. For Anderson, it would be his first three hit game of the season as he is attempting to pull himself out of a early season hole.

The offense started hot and only got hotter as the mercury level began to dip on a cool April night on the South Side of Chicago. Following Davidson’s home run, Abreu’s broken-bat single, and Melky Cabrera‘s two run single in the fifth inning, the Sox offense broke it open in the sixth inning. They poured in eight runs as Sox hitters recorded knock after knock against the Royals pitching. A Tyler Saladino two run triple and a two run double for Todd Frazier highlighted the Sox sixth and would prove more than enough for Sox starter Miguel Gonzalez.

Ever since he first put on a White Sox uniform back in April of 2016,Gonzalez has been a model of consistency. In his last 17 starts with the Sox, dating back to July of 2016, Gonzalez is an impressive 7-5 with a 2.54 ERA. He came into Monday’s start with a 2-0 mark and a 2.84 ERA in three starts this season.

Gonzalez possibly turned in the best start of his career against a struggling Royals lineup. He would allow just two weak hits all night long, pitching eight masterful innings, walking one, striking out 5 and giving up just 1 earned run. The 8 innings turned in by Gonzalez was the longest a Sox starter has gone in a game this season.

Backed by 12 runs of support, Gonzalez kept his perfect record in tact, moving to 3-0. His third win not only brought down his season ERA to an even 2.00, but Gonzalez is now responsible for a third of the Sox wins on the season (three of nine team wins), just to put that into perspective.

After being shutout in their first two games against Cleveland in their last series, the Sox bats appear to be awakening. They have scored 18 runs in their last two games and allowed just 3 runs. The blowout win once again brings the White Sox back to .500 at 9-9. They now sit just one game behind Detroit and Cleveland for first place.

Next: Derek Holland Ends White Sox Losing Streak

What’s Next?

On tap for the second game of this three game set at Guaranteed Rate Field, will be Royals ace Danny Duffy (2-0 1.32 ERA) going up against Sox rookie Dylan Covey (0-1 7.84 ERA). Duffy will look to end Kansas City’s five game skid and move them out of the cellar in the AL Central. He has dominated the Sox in his career going 3-1 with a 1.29 ERA against the South Siders. Covey is still seeking career win number one as he looks to capitalize on the Royals early season offensive struggles. The game can be seen on CSN Chicago or heard on 890 WLS at 7:10 CT.

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