More Top Picks Best Phone Cases Iphones
The White Sox cashed in on a rare combo Sunday, defeating the Royals 3-2 in the conclusion of Friday night’s suspended game, then scoring five runs in the sixth inning for a 5-3 victory in the regularly scheduled game at U.S. Cellular Field.
Perhaps even more unusual was the work of closer David Robertson, who was credited with the win to start the day, then earned the save in the second game.
“I remember (Hall of Famer) Tom Seaver talking about getting two wins in one day,” Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “It’s unusual the way the day went because normally you would have a straight doubleheader. Him starting off the day like he did (in the ninth) and finishing off (the second game in the ninth), it was nice. Good day when you get two wins in one day.”
Robertson, who is 1-0 with three saves, tried to downplay his unique afternoon.
“It’s not really any different than going out and having a little flat-ground and playing catch before the game and coming back in,” he said. “You’re throwing a little bit harder obviously with more intensity out there on the field, but I was prepared for it and thankfully I didn’t end up throwing 30 or 40 pitches each inning.”
Sunday’s rare occurrences capped an unusual series with the Royals.
“I haven’t been in too many brawls, so that would make it unusual to begin with,” catcher Tyler Flowers said of Thursday’s benches-clearing fight. “But as far as the baseball, it seemed a little strange to not even come to the park (Saturday because of a rainout) and play one and a quarter today. It’s a lot of fun though. We like a little change of pace.”
John Danks went six innings to earn the win in the second game. With the status of suspended starters Chris Sale and Jeff Samardzija in limbo pending their appeals, it could become more incumbent upon the rest of the pitching staff to pick up the slack.
Ventura said rookie left-hander Carlos Rodon could figure in the rotation soon.
“Yeah, it’s a possibility he gets a start in there for one of these guys,” Ventura said. “With (Saturday’s rainout) being the way it was, guys got a little bit of rest, but (Rodon) definitely becomes in the equation of getting a start out of one of these.”
The Sox beat the Royals on Sunday for the first time after four straight losses this season. An error by Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas in the regularly scheduled game paved the way for four unearned runs in the sixth.
“You know they’re going to be tough, so you have to be able to grind and stay with it and have confidence and all that stuff, and our guys did that,” Flowers said.
“Heading out on the road (to Baltimore) you need to have it, but especially against a team that’s already played you tough. You have to be able to withstand it and keep going and stick together. These guys are definitely doing it.”
The continuation of the suspended game ended abruptly when Avisail Garcia hit a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.
“Everybody’s continuing to grind and get through it,” Ventura said. “I know it’s not where everybody wants to be, but eventually it’s going to get there. I like what our guys are doing and how they’re going about it. They have each other, supporting each other, all that kind of stuff you like to see.”
Twitter@kicker34
More Top Picks Kitchen Scale