Chicago White Sox fall to Volquez, Royals 4-1
By Brian Draus
Apr 9, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Chicago White Sox manager
Robin Ventura(23) removes pitcher
John Danks(50) from the game against the Kansas City Royals during the sixth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago White Sox were swept in their opening series of the 2015 season in Kansas City, as the defending American League champion Royals have yet to lose a game to an AL opponent since last September.
While John Danks looked like a solid back-end starter Thursday, as he gave up four earned runs over 5.2 innings pitched, leading to a 4-1 White Sox loss.
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Unfortunately for Danks, his offense gave him no support. Edinson Volquez, who started for the Royals, went eight strong innings for Kansas City, giving up just four hits and one run.
Kansas City got on the board in the first inning on an RBI groundout by Lorenzo Cain, which scored Alcides Escobar to put the Royals on top, 1-0. Cain followed that up by making a spectacular catch in the top of the second inning, robbing Adam LaRoche of a sure double in right-center.
That wasn’t the only elite play of the game by Cain.
Cain took away extra bases in the third inning from Micah Johnson, making a running catch on the warning track in deep center field. Johnson later doubled to left in the eighth inning with one out; however, the White Sox couldn’t push him across home plate.
Apr 9, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder
Adam Eaton(1) makes a diving catch to end the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Maybe the best play of the game was made by Adam Eaton in the fifth inning, robbing Mike Moustakas of a sure extra-base hit. Eaton’s play will be on many highlight reels, as he went straight back and dove full-out to end the inning after Danks had given up a lead-off triple to Paulo Orlando. Orlando was stranded at third base.
The Royals added on to their 1-0 lead in the sixth, when Cain doubled to lead off the inning. With one out, Kendrys Morales doubled to left to score Cain, putting the Royals on top 2-0. After a Rios groundout, Salvador Perez hit a home run, which put the Royals up 4-0 and ended the day for Danks.
Chicago’s bullpen had a good day, only walking one over 2.1 innings pitched.
David Robertson made his White Sox debut in the loss, allowing one hit and a walk, with neither crossing the plate. Matt Albers threw an inning, and Javy Guerra threw to one batter. Neither allowed a hit or walk (one reached on an error).
The only White Sox run was scored in the seventh, after Volquez hit LaRoche and walked Garcia. Then Ramirez brought LaRoche home with a soft hit to left, for the White Sox only run of the ballgame.
Greg Holland closed out the ballgame for KC, with a 1-2-3 ninth. It was his second save of the season.
White Sox record: 0-3
Royals record: 3-0
Up next for the White Sox: Home Opener Friday vs. the Minnesota Twins, 3:10 p.m. CST
Up next for the Royals: at the Los Angeles Angels, 9:05 p.m. CST