It looked like it was going to be a disaster for James Shields. Four batters. Four runs. That’s how the beginning of the season started for the White Sox opening day starter.
Already trailing 4-0 before the Sox could muster an out, the season looked already lost for Shields and the rebuilding ballclub.
Shields would manage to get out of the first without giving up anymore damage. Though, the game was still early, the recent years didn’t give many fans hope that a comeback was possible.
Shields would settle down after the rough first and the Sox bats would do some damage of their own.
In the top of the fourth inning, After an Avisail Garcia double to lead things off, Jose Abreu would send Danny Duffy’s pitch 410 feet into the left center stands. Before anyone could catch their breath, Matt Davidson would send one either further at 435 feet.
The inning wouldn’t stop there as Tim Anderson would join in on the fun and hit a home run to tie the ballgame up at four a piece. The Sox would eventually take the lead after a Yoan Moncada double scored Yolmer Sanchez.
Tim Anderson would belt another homer, but he wouldn’t be the player of the game. Matt Davidson would follow up his fourth inning homer with homers in the 5th and 8th inning helping the Sox route the Royals 14-7.
Davidson would become just fourth player in history to homer three times on opening day. The Sox would tie a major league second with six homers on opening day, matching the 1988 Mets.
Game two started just like game one, with Lucas Giolito failing to get any of the first four batters out. Just like Shields, Giolito would settle down after the shaky first and go six innings, giving up three runs.
Trailing 3-1 in the top of the 8th inning, Yoan Moncada led off with a soler homer to cut down the deficit to one. After a Garcia infield single and a Davidson walk, Wellington Castillo would double on a 3-0 pitch to give the Sox a 4-3 victory as new closer Joakim Soria would close out the game.
The Sox would exit the series being the only undefeated American League team at the time. That didn’t last long.
Reynaldo Lopez didn’t have the first inning jitters his fellow pitchers had. Lopez looked strong in six innings, only giving up two hits, one run, and six strikeouts.
Even with the strong start from Lopez and two homers from Castillo, the Sox would fall 4-2 after the bullpen failed to close things down.
Game two of the series would replicate the Sox opener, just not for them. Miguel Gonzalez was hit hard in his five innings of pitching, giving up eight hits and five runs.
The bullpen had another disappointing outing. Hector Santiago and Gregory Infante gave up eight runs combined. The Blue Jays beatdown the Sox 14-7.
In the final game of the series, Carson Fulmer did his best to silence his critics he had in the spring. The former top ten pick looked solid in his 2018 debut.
Tied 3-3 in the 8th, Jose Abreu hit 3-0 ball to straight center to give the Sox the lead and the win.
With a 3-2 record, a opening home series against the Detroit Tigers, a team also rebuilding, looked like easy opportunity for the team to get off to a fast start. The excitement from the opener quickly became disappointment.
Things would get off to a good start as 7-3 Sox lead looked like a victory for the southsiders, but more bullpen struggles would haunt the ball club. The pen would give up six runs and the Tigers would pick up the 9-7 victory.
After the offense looked strong the first six games, the bats would hit stalemate the next two game.
Tigers starter Michael Fulmer didn’t allow a run in his six innings of work, picking up his first win of the season. Sox wouldn’t get lucky in the finale of the series, getting blanked 1-0.
After a 2-0 start, some fans thought maybe the Sox will have a chance to compete this season, but after getting swept by the Tigers, the reality of this still being a rebuilding team hit the fan base.
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Dominic Pellegrini
Sports Reporter
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