The Chicago White Sox offense has officially risen back up to lead this team to where it needs to be. The offense scored 11 runs and had 21 hits, both season highs. This win also put the White Sox on a three-game winning streak with an overall record back of 4-4. The grey cloud over the White Sox has finally begun to dissipate, and the future of this season is looking a lot brighter for this talented team.
Fans have been begging for Luis Robert to move up in the lineup, giving him more at-bats, and with Tim Anderson’s injury opening up the lead-off spot, the call was answered. Robert filled in spades on Saturday night, going 4-6 with 2R, 2RBI, and 1HR, leaving him a triple away from getting a cycle.
Eloy Jimenez did not want Robert to have the spotlight to himself; he also went 4-6, with 1R, 4RBI, and 1HR, falling one triple shy of getting a cycle. It was a joy to watch these young studs bash almost every pitch that came to them. Going forward, these two hitters are going be the ones to carry the team.
Leury Garcia chipped in with four hits on Saturday; other members of the hit parade included Yoan Moncada, hitting 3-5 with 2R and 1BB, Jose Abreu (2H), Yasmani Grandal (2H), and Adam Engel and Edwin Encarnacion with one hit each. Nick Madrigal was the only White Sox player to not record a hit (0-5) on Saturday night. Madrigal did not get a hit in his Major League debut on Friday, but he has only struck out once in his eight at-bats.
The pitching of the night did enough to win with an offense that was hitting everything. Gio Gonzalez made his second start, subbing in for the injured Reynaldo Lopez. His pitching faired a lot better than his first start, last Sunday with 3.2IP 5H 0ER 3BB 6K. When he exited the game, the White Sox had a 5-0 lead. The bullpen’s long scoreless innings streak was finally broken at 18IP when the Royals scored in the bottom of the 6th. It is exciting to see how quickly one of White Sox’s most significant weaknesses has become one of its best strengths.
The White Sox seem to have gotten their mojo going, but now is not the time to take their foot off the gas. They need to complete the sweep of the Royals. Dylan Cease gets his second start of the year and will need to show improvement from his first start of the season (2.1IP 7H 4ER 0BB 1K). Despite the offense picking up, the White Sox starting pitchers still need to be serviceable for the rest of the season. Another White Sox win would finally put them over .500 and add to the momentum heading into their next two series.