Moncada’s bat, Robert’s glove lift Sox to Houston split
HOUSTON — What’s the easiest way to explain the White Sox four-game, season-opening cut up with the Astros, facilitated by a 6-3 victory in Sunday’s collection finale?
Competitive? Infinitely entertaining from Framber Valdez’s first pitch Thursday to Reynaldo López’s final pitch Sunday? White Sox supervisor Pedro Grifol had one phrase … after which a couple of extra, when requested postgame what he noticed from his workforce this weekend.
“Grit,” Grifol stated. “We were playing the world champions in a tough environment, a tough place to play. And we had chances to win all four games. That’s what I think.”
Here’s a have a look at 4 moments of be aware coming from these 4 matchups:
MONCADA MAKES A STATEMENT
Actually, Yoán Moncada made that assertion for this season throughout his all-tournament efficiency for Cuba within the World Baseball Classic. He punctuated this subsequent commentary Sunday with a house run, two doubles and stellar defensive play at third base.
“Moncada, we couldn’t get him out the whole series,” Houston supervisor Dusty Baker stated. “You got a guy like that that’s hot in the middle of the lineup …”
“That’s the effort we’ve spoken about,” Grifol stated. “That’s the effort expected from them.”
For the weekend, Moncada was 8-for-18 with two homers and 4 RBIs.
OUTFIELD DEFENSE
The play by Moncada on Mauricio Dubón’s bunt within the second was spectacular, but it surely paled compared to Luis Robert Jr.’s operating catch in left-center in opposition to Kyle Tucker within the ninth. According to Statcast, Robert lined 113 toes at 30.2 toes/second max dash pace (with 30+ thought-about elite) and had 6.1 toes vs. a median bounce.
“Megatron? Calvin Johnson in center field?” stated a smiling Mike Clevinger, who earned the win Sunday. “Good grief, yeah. It’s very comforting to know you have those guys behind you.”
“He’s a superior athlete out there, and he made it look kind of easy,” Baker stated. “I did not assume he was going to get to that ball. [Andrew] Benintendi needed to bounce over him after he slid. That was an amazing play.”
Robert thought the catch taking away additional bases from Tucker on Saturday in opposition to the right-center subject wall was the higher of the 2.
“Yesterday’s one, because it was more difficult,” Robert stated by way of interpreter Billy Russo. “I needed to have the proper timing to leap and catch the ball. Today, I used to be operating behind the ball and I used to be capable of seize it.”
COLÁS IS FOR REAL
Oscar Colás hit persistently for the White Sox, ending with a double and a single to left Sunday alongside together with his first RBI. He additionally swiped a base and made a diving catch on David Hensley’s line drive to right-center within the fifth to save lots of two runs.
The White Sox have one among their finest defensive outfields in lots of a yr and may have one of many higher defensive outfields within the American League. Meanwhile, Colás — the No. 2 White Sox prospect and No. 85 general — feels slightly higher adjusted after his first 4 video games.
“I’ve learned through these four days a lot of stuff,” Colás stated by way of Russo. “Playing against a full house with this crowd for the first time. Learning about specific situations of the game. I’m learning. I think it was a very good experience for me.”
STARTING PITCHING
Dylan Cease was masterful. Lance Lynn and Lucas Giolito have been each stable and Clevinger, in his White Sox debut, struck out eight over 5 scoreless innings. He had 13 swings and misses in line with Statcast, with seven off the slider and 6 off his four-seam fastball.
“The stuff metrically, it’s moving, the execution, was exactly how I wanted it to be,” Clevinger stated. “I truly threw extra fastballs than typical.
“Fastball was probably the best pitch I had today. It was a good start. Felt life, I felt really good body-wise and healthy. That was the main common denominator.”
SWEET HOME CHICAGO
With this Houston battle behind them, the White Sox return for his or her dwelling opener Monday afternoon in opposition to the Giants at Guaranteed Rate Field. First pitch has been moved up to 2:10 p.m. CT because of the forecast of inclement climate, but it surely’s time to get dwelling for the South Siders.
“Actually matching the world champions was the best that could happen to us because that can [allow us to] measure ourselves against one of the best teams in the league,” Robert stated. “Leaving right here with a 2-2 report is sweet. I feel it was an excellent collection.”
