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Samardzija loses command of zone, Royals
Robert Falkoff / Special to MLB.com | August 8th, 2015
For three innings on Saturday night, Jeff Samardzija was perfect. But the fourth and fifth innings were a
different matter as the White Sox right-hander struggled mightily in the Royals' 7-6 win at Kauffman
Stadium.
Samardzija went a season-low 4 2/3 innings for a second consecutive start and was charged with seven earned runs. Over his last two starts, his ERA has jumped from 3.94 to 4.62. He's now 0-5 in his career
against Kansas City and 0-3 this season with a 7.71 ERA.
What changed after the third when Samardzija took the mound with a 2-0 lead? Samardzija felt that after
Alcides Escobar led off the fourth with a single his outing changed dramatically with back-to-back walks to Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain. That left the bases loaded with nobody out, and the Royals would
go on to score three runs.
"Two walks will kill you," Samardzija said. "Moustakas and Cain put together two good at-bats there.
Walks come back to haunt you all the time."
Samardzija's back-to-back rough outings have come against the Royals and Yankees -- the two teams with the best records in the American League.
"You play two good teams and if you aren't on your game, it's going to come back to get you,"
Samardzija said. "It doesn't change anything. You've got five days and you start again. We'll go back to
work and be ready next time."
White Sox manager Robin Ventura agreed that it was a general lack of command in the fourth and fifth that led to Samardzija's early exit.
"It seemed like he was working from behind a lot in the middle innings," Ventura said. "He's always better when he's jumping ahead.
"You know guys are going to have a bump here and there. When you score [six runs] against these guys,
you have to kind of earn it. [The Royals] put the runs up. Our job is to try and stop them and right now,
it's not happening."
Even after loading the bases with nobody out in the fourth, Samardzija had a chance to get out of the inning with just one run. With two on and one out, Kendrys Morales hit a wicked shot that third baseman
Tyler Saladino got a glove on. Had he held on, Saladino could have turned an inning-ending double play against Morales, who does not run well. But the ball popped away and Saladino could only get an out at
first as the tying run scored. Salvador Perez then produced an RBI single that put the Royals up 3-2.
The Royals then went to work with four runs on four hits in the fifth, and Samardzija's outing came to an
abrupt halt.
"When you score six runs, you should win those games," Samardzija said. "Speaking for myself, you've
got to go out and be better than I've been the last couple of times."
Jones fired up to be back on big league stage
Robert Falkoff / Special to MLB.com | August 8th, 2015
It remains to be seen how much Nate Jones can help the White Sox bullpen in high-leverage situations
down the stretch this season. But for one evening on Friday, as Jones made his first Major League appearance since April 3, 2014, optimism was in the air.
Jones, who has traveled a long road back since Tommy John surgery, worked a perfect eighth inning
against the heart of the Royals lineup with the White Sox trailing by two runs. Jones got Eric Hosmer on
a groundout before striking out Kendrys Morales and Mike Moustakas. He threw 16 pitches (11 strikes) and one pitch touched 100 mph, according to the Kauffman Stadium radar gun.
"He was amped up and excited to be in there," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "It's a lot of work
to go through what he did. For him to go out there and do that against that part of their lineup is very impressive."
Jones was focused on using the pent-up energy in a positive way as he made his Major League return.
"I was just concentrating on the [catcher's] mitt and giving everything I had toward it," Jones said. "It was like the whole rehab process was coming toward an end. It all came out right there."
Worth noting
Rookie outfielder Trayce Thompson, who responded to an emergency call to replace an injured Adam
Eaton in the fourth inning Friday by going 2-for-2, expressed relief that he got his first Major League hit out of the way. Thompson beat out an infield hit to the left side in the sixth and then doubled to left in
the eighth.
"Any hit is a hit," Thompson said. "I'll take it. It was definitely a relief, and I'll save that [first hit] ball for
the rest of my life."
Samardzija stays off track in loss to Royals
Jeffrey Flanagan and Robert Falkoff / MLB.com | August 8th, 2015
Salvador Perez and Kendrys Morales each drove in two runs and the Royals survived another shaky
outing from starter Jeremy Guthrie in a 7-6 victory over the White Sox in front of 39,302 fans at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday night.
Guthrie was staked to a 7-2 lead after five. But after giving up 10 hits and eight runs in his last outing, Guthrie wound up giving up 10 hits and six runs in 5 2/3 innings. After Luke Hochevar gave up two
inherited runners, the Royals' bullpen shut down the White Sox on no runs over the final three innings to secure the win. Jose Abreu hit two home runs for the White Sox.
White Sox starter Jeff Samardzija has back-to-back starts in which he has worked only 4 2/3 innings, a
season low. He is 0-5 in his career against the Royals.
"They are tough all the way through," Samardzija said. "Good pitching, good bullpen. We put up six runs
and you've got to win those games. That's where it falls on the pitching."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Sal goes oppo: Perez, who has been struggling mightily lately, tried something different Saturday: He
went the other way, not once but twice. In the fourth inning, Perez reached out and poked a line-drive single to right, scoring Eric Hosmer and giving the Royals a 3-2 lead. In the fifth, Perez capped a four-run
inning by driving a ball deep into the right-field corner for an RBI double that put the Royals up 7-2.
Morales drives in two more: Morales came into the game with a team-leading 76 RBIs. He added to that
in the fourth inning when, with runners on first and third, he ripped a shot toward left that White Sox third baseman Tyler Saladino snared on one hop. But Saladino couldn't get the handle in time to start a
double play, so he took the out at first, allowing a run to score. In the fifth, Morales boomed an RBI double off the right-field wall.
Starting early: With men at first and second and two outs in the fifth, Abreu -- who had already homered off Guthrie -- had a 3-2 count. But Abreu never got the chance to finish his at-bat because Geovany Soto
broke prematurely off second and was caught in a rundown and tagged out to end the inning with the Royals up by a run. Abreu then led off the sixth with a homer -- his second of the game -- but by then
the White Sox had started the inning down by five.
"Especially with Jose at the plate, you've got to make sure [Guthrie] goes home," White Sox manager
Robin Ventura said. "I'm sure [Soto] is kicking himself."
Perez gave Guthrie the sign for the inside move.
"Great call by Salvy. He picked it up the pitch before [that Soto was straying]," Guthrie said.
Power stroke: Abreu collected his fifth career multi-homer game and first since June 27, 2014, at
Toronto.
"I've been feeling very good since the All-Star Game," Abreu said through a translator. "The power has been there, the homers have been there. But the most important thing is to get wins. It doesn't matter
what you do individually. It's what you can do as a team."
Said Guthrie, "We've pitched him very well in the past. But I didn't execute pitches to him tonight and he
can hurt you. He's been a hot hitter the last two weeks. I paid the price for making mistakes."
QUOTABLE
"Big walks, nice walks. I don't see the panic at-bats that we had probably a year and a half ago or even a
year ago at this time. And I haven't seen them all year long. It just shows their growth and their maturity and their experience as Major League players." -- Royals manager Ned Yost, encouraged by two walks
the Royals drew in the fourth inning after falling behind in the count 0-2
WHAT'S NEXT
White Sox: Left-hander Jose Quintana (6-9, 3.50 ERA) will try to keep his road show in fine form as the
White Sox conclude their brief three-game road trip against the Royals on Sunday at 1:10 CT. Quintana has made nine straight quality starts on the road, the longest streak by a White Sox pitcher since Jake
Peavy in 2011 through 2012.
Royals: The Royals will wrap up the three-game set on Sunday with left-hander Danny Duffy taking the
mound. Duffy (5-5, 4.04 ERA) gave up just one run and five hits over seven innings last Tuesday in a win over Detroit.
Eaton in the lineup with sore left shoulder
Robert Falkoff / Special to MLB.com | August 8th, 2015
One day after leaving a game with a jammed left shoulder, White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton was right back in the lineup on Saturday night against the Royals.
Eaton, who injured the shoulder Friday night while making a fully extended catch and tumbling to the ground in the fourth inning, received good news from an MRI and X-ray, and got the green light Saturday
from the medical staff and manager Robin Ventura.
Eaton, who went 1-for-4 with two RBIs in the 7-6 loss, said he originally felt some shoulder discomfort in
a recent game against Cleveland and has been battling to stay in the lineup.
"It's something we're going to continue to deal with," Eaton said. "I'm glad Skip put me back in the lineup because I want to be in there."
Eager to help the White Sox make a push for a Wild Card, Eaton said he would deal with the throws from
the outfield as best he can. He remains an offensive catalyst at the top of the lineup.
"For the last two weeks, what I've had out there is what I've had," Eaton said. "We're getting to the days
when we need to make a push and I want to be part of that. These guys have put in hard hours all year. We're getting down to the nitty-gritty now. I don't need to take a day off."
Ventura made the decision to put Eaton in the lineup Saturday based largely on information he received from head trainer Herm Schneider.
"It's not a structural thing," Ventura said. "It's more of a nerve thing that isn't going to get better in one
or two days. He feels good enough to go out there and we're going by that. If it was something where I felt he was being compromised in going out there to play, he wouldn't be in there."
Duffy, Royals attempt to close out sweep of White Sox
Robert Falkoff / Special to MLB.com | August 8th, 2015
When he last faced the White Sox on July 19, Royals left-hander Danny Duffy accomplished one of his
major goals: work deep into the game and take some pressure off the bullpen.
Duffy pitched a career-high eight innings and left after allowing one run in a 4-1 Kansas City victory. The White Sox, who have lost two straight one-run decisions to the first-place Royals, will try to make sure
Duffy doesn't enjoy that type of longevity on Sunday in the finale of a three-game series.
Making shorter work of Duffy will be a challenge. Duffy has been pitching particularly well in recent
weeks with five quality starts in his last six outings.
The White Sox will counter with lefty Jose Quintana, who hasn't been able to pick up a win over Kansas City despite some impressive outings. Quintana has gone 0-6 versus the Royals lifetime with a 4.63 ERA.
But he has been hot of late with a 2-0 record and 1.69 ERA over his last three appearances.
Things to know about this game
• Quintana leads the Major Leagues with 46 no-decisions since 2012.
• Since coming off the disabled list on June 24, Duffy has posted a 2.66 ERA. He had a 5.87 ERA in eight starts before going on the DL.
• Quintana has made nine consecutive quality starts on the road, the longest streak by a White Sox
pitcher since Jake Peavy had a streak of 11 from 2011-12.
Jeff Samardzija's struggles coming at worst time for White Sox
Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune
August 8, 2015
Jeff Samardzija hastily left the mound to a chorus of boos at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday night, a
telling end to an ugly night for the White Sox right-hander.
Nine days earlier, the Sox had retained Samardzija on their roster at the trade deadline after months of speculation about whether they would try to flip him to another team for prospects. A promising winning
stretch in July prompted the Sox to keep him around until he hits free agency this fall, but he hasn't done a lot to help the Sox win in his two starts since the deadline passed.
Samardzija gave up seven earned runs in a 7-6 loss that assured the Royals of a series victory. Combined with his previous start against the Yankees, he has allowed 16 earned runs over 9 1/3 innings since July
31.
"You play two good teams, and if you're not on your game, it's going to come back and get you,"
Samardzija said. "You're trying not to let (the trade-deadline situation affect you). You go out and do your job. You can't use any excuses. You've just got to be better."
Samardzija's troubles, piggybacked on back-to-back poor starts from ace Chris Sale, have come at the
worst time for the Sox, who are trying to stay relevant in the American League wild-card race. After their seven-game winning streak at the end of July brought them within one victory of .500, they've dropped
to 51-57.
Center fielder Adam Eaton acknowledged such urgency when he pleaded his way into the lineup a day
after he suffered a jammed left shoulder while making a tumbling catch.
Kansas City Royals' Jarrod Dyson beats the throw to White Sox third baseman Tyler Saladino after hitting
a triple during the fifth inning. "We're getting to the days where we need to make a push, and I want to be part of that with these
guys," Eaton said. "They've put in hard hours all year and it's getting down to the nitty-gritty, and I don't want to take a day off."
Samardzija hasn't earned a lot of love from the Royals after a chippy opening-day appearance in Kansas City and his role in the teams' brawl in April, for which he earned a five-game suspension.
He was sharp to start Saturday, retiring the Royals in order in the first three innings, but they got to him
in the fourth. After Samardzija loaded the bases on a single and two walks, the Royals scratched out three runs, pulling ahead 3-2 on Salvador Perez's RBI single to right.
The Royals' four-run fifth began with Jarrod Dyson's triple before Samardzija hit Alcides Escobar with a pitch. Manager Robin Ventura pulled Samardzija after 4 2/3 innings when he allowed an RBI double to
Kendrys Morales.
"(Samardzija's) not sitting there rethinking the trade deadline," Ventura said. "You tip your cap to those
guys — they're placing it in the right spots. ... It's tough because with their speed and athleticism, you have to be lockdown, and it wasn't today."
The Sox put up six earned runs against right-hander Jeremy Guthrie, including two solo home runs for
Jose Abreu, his first multihomer game since June 2014.
Eaton, who has battled a sore left shoulder since a dive in Cleveland late last month, hit a bases-loaded,
two-run single to cap a four-run sixth.
Saturday's recap: Royals 7, White Sox 6
Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune
August 8, 2015
White Sox right-hander Jeff Samardzija allowed seven earned runs over 4 2/3 innings in a 7-6 loss to the Royals on Saturday night at Kauffman Stadium. Samardzija retired the Royals in order in the first three
innings, but they got to him in the fourth and fifth to take the lead.
Turning point
Jarrod Dyson tripled and Samardzija hit Alcides Escobar with a pitch to spark the Royals' four-run fifth.
At the plate
Jose Abreu hit his 20th homer 416 feet to center to start the fourth, and he added another solo homer to left to spark a four-run sixth.
On the bases
Abreu was up with two on and two out in the fifth and had reached a full count when Geovany Soto was
caught off second base to end the inning.
Key number
16 — Earned runs allowed by Samardzija over 9 1/3 innings in two starts since the July 31 trade
deadline.
The quote
"Two walks kill you, especially against a team like this. You have to keep those runners off the bases.
They battled." — Samardzija
The quote II
"It has been tough for us to combine the defense with the pitching with the offense. It's hard to get wins
when you can't combine that. ... This is a long season, and if you want to win, you have to be consistent in all areas." — Abreu through a team interpreter
Up next
At Royals, 1:10 p.m. Sunday, WGN-9.
After two hits Friday, Trayce Thompson takes his turn in family spotlight
Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune
August 8, 2015
When Trayce Thompson arrived safely at first base Friday night, White Sox first-base coach Daryl Boston had a question for him.
“He asked me if I’m sure that’s the ball I want to keep,” Thompson said before Saturday’s game against the Royals. “Any hit is a hit. I’ll take it however they come. ... I’ll save that ball for the rest of my life.”
Thompson said it was special to share his first major-league hit with Boston, who has helped him during
his climb up the minor-league ranks. Thompson followed his soft infield single with a more convincing
ground-rule double to left to bring his career numbers to 2-for-3.
The first at-bat was an “overanxious” strikeout against Rays ace Chris Archer on Tuesday.
Thompson was filling in Friday for center fielder Adam Eaton, who left in the fourth with a jammed left shoulder. Eaton returned to the lineup Saturday and Thompson returned to the bench, but manager
Robin Ventura said he hoped to use Thompson again Sunday against left-hander Danny Duffy.
“He was ready to play ... and made the most of the opportunity,” Ventura said. “It’s nice to see that
reaction from him.”
Until his next opportunity, Thompson was fielding a flood of congratulatory texts — the most since his
brother, Warriors star Klay Thompson, scored an NBA-record 37 points in one quarter during a 52-point game in January.
“It’s just funny that people are now texting me about myself instead of about him,” Thompson said.
Impressive return: Reliever Nate Jones experienced a wave of emotions Friday as he pitched in his first
major-league game since April 3, 2014. His primary emotion Saturday after throwing a perfect inning with
two strikeouts in his comeback from Tommy John surgery was happiness.
“There’s a lot of frustration, a lot of anxiety, a lot of excitement, a lot of adrenaline, and it all came out right there,” Jones said. “I was fortunate enough I was able to do my job and keep it under control.”
Jones said he didn’t pay attention to hitting 100 mph on the radar gun, instead worrying about if he felt healthy. Ventura thought he looked “fairly similar” to the pre-surgery Jones.
“With each outing, you get more and more confidence knowing you ... belong here,” Jones said.
White Sox notes: Adam Eaton, Nate Jones, Trayce Thompson
Daryl Van Shouwen, Chicago Sun-Times August 8, 2015
Center fielder Adam Eaton was back in the White Sox lineup Saturday, a day after he exited the Sox’ 3-2
loss to the Kansas City Royals with a jammed left shoulder.
Eaton has been dealing with a sore shoulder since he dived for a ball in Cleveland two weeks ago. He
aggravated it when he fell after going back to catch a fly ball by Ben Zobrist during the fourth inning.
“Something we’re going to continue to deal with and I’m glad Skip put me back in the lineup because I
want to be back in there,” said Eaton, who leads the American League in runs scored and is second in on-base percentage since the All-Star break. ” Get some meds in me. I told him ‘give me my helmet and
my gun and get me back in the trench.’ ”
Asked if it affected his throwing Eaton said, “Dealing with it for a couple weeks now so I guess for the
last two weeks is what I’ve had out there and what I’m going to have. So it’s something we’ll continue to deal with.”
The Sox were 51-56 going into Saturday’s game against the Royals (64-44).
“We’re getting to the days where we need to make a push and I want to be part of that with these guys. They’ve put in hard hours all year and it’s getting down to the nitty gritty right now and I don’t want to
take a day off. Everyone is hurting right now.”
It’s often customary for a player who comes out of a game with an injury to also miss the next game. Ventura has exercised that policy in the past.
“It’s not a structural thing,” Ventura said. “It’s more of a nerve thing that isn’t going to get better in one days or two days so it’s going to be there for a while. He feels good enough to go out there and do
something so we’re kind of going by that and let them.
“We’re better when he’s in there, it’s that simple, and he knows it.”
Jones’ 100 mph return
Nate Jones touched 100 mph and averaged 99.49 mph with his fastball (according to BrooksBaseball) in
his first outing Friday night since Tommy John surgery, and the right-hander retired all three batters he faced with two strikeouts. Jones was amped up, understandably, standing on a major league mound in a
full ballpark for the first time since April of last year.
“It was like the whole rehab process was coming to an end,” Jones said. “There’s a lot of frustration, a lot
of anxiety, a lot of excitement, a lot of adrenaline, and it all came out right there. It was good, I was fortunate enough I was able to do my job and keep it under control, and I was very excited about it.”
Jones was a candidate to be the Sox’ closer last year but he encountered health issues, starting with a hip problem, from the get-go. If healthy again, he figures to make it back to an eighth-inning role, if not
this season by next year, but the process will be gradual.
“When you see what he does it becomes more important, his role moving forward of what it’s going to be
in the bullpen,” Ventura said.
Equally impressive was that Jones threw six of seven sliders for strikes.
“He was a little amped up [Friday]. He was excited to be in there, you see him taking his deep breaths. It’s a lot of work to go through what he did. Any guy that goes through that process understands that.
“He’s been here a few days and for him to go out there and do that against that part of their lineup is very impressive and we’re happy to have him back. ”
This and that
Ventura on Trayce Thompson, who replaced Eaton Friday and had two hits, including a double: “I thought he reacted great and there wasn’t anything going on that would have a kid like that ready to go
in, but he was ready to play, got in took advantage of it, made the most of the opportunity. It’s good. He’ll be in there one way or another [Sunday] with Duffy going. But it’s nice to see that reaction from
him.
*Chris Sale, who has had two consecutive supbar outings, had a side session in the bullpen with pitching
coach Don Cooper and bullpen coach Bobby Thigpen. Sale appeared to be giving attention to his release point. Sale is scheduled to start Monday when the Sox open a home stand against the Angels.
*The Sox had won 11 of their last 14 road games going into Saturday.
Samardzija routed in latest White Sox loss to Royals
Daryl Van Shouwen, Chicago Sun-Times August 8, 2015
Jeff Samardzija continued on his post-trade deadline come down Saturday, getting roughed up and
knocked out before finishing the fifth inning for second time since it passed.
With so much speculation and, in Samardzija’s case anticipation about the possibility of moving to a
contender, you wonder if staying put took something out of the Shark’s bite.
“You’re trying not to let it [affect you],” Samardzija said of the trade deadline coming and going without
a change of uniform. “You go out and do your job. You can’t use any excuses for nothing. You’ve just got to be better out on the mound.”
Samardzija hasn’t been. In the Sox’ 7-6 loss Saturday, their seventh loss in nine games dropping them to
51-57, he got roughed up for seven runs over 4 2/3 innings. He has given up 16 runs on 14 hits over 9 1/3 innings covering starts against the Yankees and Royals since the trade deadline. Before that he had
reeled off 10 straight starts of seven innings or more.
Manager Robin Ventura, for one, said Samardzija (8-7, 4.62), who is now pitching for a free-agent
contract he will land in the offseason, has had his heart and focus on pitching for his team.
“He’s not sitting there rethinking the trade deadline,’’ Ventura said. “You tip your cap to those guys [the
64-44 Royals], they’re placing it in the right spots. They hit some hard, some not so hard and it’s tough with them because with their speed and athleticism you have to be lockdown — and it wasn’t today.’’
Samardzija’s evening began perfectly. He retired the first nine Royals and was handed a 2-0 lead when
Jose Abreu hit the first of two homers before Melky Cabrera doubled and scored.
But in the Royals fourth, Alcides Escobar led off with a single and Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain
walked to load the bases with no outs and set up a three-run inning.
“Two walks kill you, especially against a team like this,” Samardzija said.
The Sox brought Abreu up in the fifth with two on and two out, but Samardzija’s catcher, Geovany Soto,
was caught leaving for third two soon on a full count and was picked off by Jeremy Guthrie.
“Especially with Josey at the plate you have to make sure that guy goes home and, you know, I’m sure he’s kicking himself,’’ Ventura said.
The Royals quickly put up another crooked number, scoring four in a fifth inning that began with a leadoff triple by Jarrod Dyson and a Samardzija pitch that grazed Alcides Escobar near the wrist.
“You play two good teams, and if you’re not on your game, it’s going to come back and get you,’’
Samardzija said.
“As a pitching staff, we take a lot of pride in going out and being dominant every day out with who we
have. We have a great staff. When we get six runs, we should win those games. Our offense has been doing great. We’re playing great defense.’’
What looked like a rout in the making took a turn when the Sox answered with four in the sixth against
Guthrie on Abreu’s second homer and 21st of the season, an RBI single by Carlos Sanchez and a two-run
single by Adam Eaton to make it 7-6 in the sixth.
That was it for the scoring as both bullpens took over. Greg Holland struck out Eaton, Saladino and Abreu in order in the ninth.
By that time, Samardzija was long gone. His days with the Sox may be numbered, but general manager
Rick Hahn is still talking like he would like the right-hander to be a part of his rotation with 20-something
lefties Chris Sale, Jose Quintana and Carlos Rodon for years to come.
“We expect to be in the thick of things this offseason,’’ Hahn said last week. “In a few months from now we’ll really zero in on trying to figure out if we can make that work.’’
Royals too good for White Sox -- once again
Daryl Van Shouwen, Chicago Sun-Times August 8, 2015
The gap between the best in the American League and the best the White Sox can offer continued to be
painfully obvious in the Kansas City Royals’ 3-2 victory Friday night.
The Sox sent John Danks, who can’t explain why but has mastered the Royals in his career, but even
Danks wasn’t good enough to prevent the Royals from beating the Sox for the eighth time in 11 games.
Going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position against Edinson Volquez and the Royals bullpen ultimately
cost the Sox, who lost for the sixth time in eight games to fall to 51-56 after that seven-game winning streak which provided temporary, if not false, hope of vying for a wild card berth.
The only good news coming out of this loss was that Adam Eaton, who left in the fourth inning after
jamming his left shoulder after going to the ground after catching Ben Zobrist’s deep fly ball in the fourth,
does not appear to be seriously injured.
“It’s something I’ve been dealing with,’’ said the left-handed Eaton, who originally hurt the shoulder on a dive in the outfield in Cleveland two weeks ago. “I’ve been able to manage it. It’s going to hurt when you
land on it like I did.’’
This loss hurt because the Sox had opportunities against Volquez.
Alex Rios doubled in a run in the fifth, and after the Sox tied it on Jose Abreu’s RBI double, the Royals
took the lead back against Danks on Lorenzo Cain’s RBI double and Eric Hosmer’s RBI single. The first four batters reached against Danks in the sixth.
The Sox wasted a leadoff double by Melky Cabrera in the second and a second-and-third, no-outs situation in the eighth after Tyler Flowers led off with a walk against Luke Hochevar and Trayce
Thompson — Eaton’s replacement — doubled Flowers to third.
In the second, Adam LaRoche flew out to short left and Alexei Ramirez popped out to second baseman Omar Infante.
In the eighth, Tyler Saladino and Abreu struck out against Hochevar, and Cabrera flied out to right against Franklin Morales.
“We had plenty of opportunities,” manager Robin Ventura said. “They pitched tough in these situations
and we didn’t get it done.”
LaRoche hit a solo homer, his 10th of the season, with one out in the ninth against Greg Holland to make
it 3-2. The homer was the first for LaRoche in 174 plate appearances. It was the second homer allowed this year by Holland.
On the plus side, Thompson got his first major league hit, an infield single to go with the double to left,
and showed some speed scoring from first on Abreu’s double.
Right-hander Nate Jones, making his first appearance since April 2014, returned from Tommy John
surgery with a scoreless inning including two strikeouts and touching 100 mph on the scoreboard velocity gun.
White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton leaves game with jammed shoulder
Daryl Van Shouwen, Chicago Sun-Times August 8, 2015
White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton left Friday’s game against the Kansas City Royals with a jammed left
shoulder after he fell to the ground going back to catch a fly ball.
Eaton, who throws and bats left-handed, said he re-aggravated the shoulder which he tweaked diving for
a ball in Cleveland two weeks ago. He said he hoped to play Saturday against the Royals, but that seemed optimistic.
Eaton turned toward the center field wall to run down Ben Zobrist’s fly ball leading off the Royals’ half of the fourth inning, made the catch and his he fell as he was trying to stay on his feet. Eaton, who
extended his left arm to break the fall, is day-to-day.
“I’ve been dealing with it,” Eaton said. “I’ve been able to manage it, and today when you’re running full
speed, I don’t care if you have a sore shoulder or not, it’s probably going to hurt when you land on it like I did. We’ll be all right.”
Left fielder Melky Cabrera immediately waved trainer Herm Schneider out to center field. Eaton then
walked off with Schneider and manager Robin Ventura.
Rookie Trayce Thompson replaced Eaton, making his first appearance in the outfield. Thompson had an infield single for his first major league hit, scored from first on Jose Abreu’s double in the sixth and
dropped a double down the left field line in the eighth.
Eaton, the Sox leadoff man, went into the game on a hot streak, leading the American League with 20
runs scored and ranking second with a .494 on-base percentage after the All-Star break. He had hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games with 16 runs scored and a 1.129 OPS.
The Sox are already thin in the outfield with fourth outfielder J.B. Shuck on the 15-day disabled list with a
left hamstring strain. Shuck, who has never had a hamstring injury, is eligible to come off the DL Aug. 16 but seemed unsure about when he might be back or if he’d need a minor league rehab assignment.
“I’m kind of new to it so there’s definitely that cautious side,” Shuck said. “I’ve heard a lot of stories of guys who try to come back too soon and it gives them a lot of problems.”
White Sox slugger Jose Abreu on right, write track
Daryl Van Shouwen, Chicago Sun-Times August 8, 2015
White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Albert Belle kept the most meticulous book on pitchers he’s ever
seen.
With one and two thirds of a season of major league games under his belt, Jose Abreu’s book probably
isn’t as involved as Belle’s, but it’s coming along.
“I take notes,” Abreu said through a translator Friday. “I have a diary. I write every day. Some at-bats what happened in the game, that specific at-bat, what pitch was thrown to me in what count, in what
situation. I have all of that information in my book.”
If pitchers are getting a read on Abreu, he seems to be adjusting. Abreu has hit safely in 15 of his last
16 games going into the Sox game against the Royals in Kansas City Friday. He was hitting .350 with five home runs and 18 RBI during that stretch and has hit three home runs in his last seven games. A strong
wind blowing in over the center field wall at U.S. Cellular Field probably took another one away Wednesday in the Sox’ 6-5 win in 10 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays.
With five homers in his last 13 games following a 15-game drought, Abreu, who has been driving the ball consistently to right-center field, seems to be finding the power stroke that helped him lead the majors in
slugging percentage during his rookie season last year. He doubled to right center in the sixth inning Friday against Edinson Volquez to score Trayce Thompson from first base with the tying run of a 1-1
game.
“He’s very professional in that way that he likes to be in the middle of the field, he likes to be inside the
baseball,” manager Robin Ventura said. “Really it’s how hard he’s hitting it. He went through a period where his finger wasn’t feeling that good but he was still over there, it just wasn’t quite coming off the
bat that hard. Now, just the authority it’s coming off his bat is much different. He’s had some homers
lately and some that were close, but you like where’s at just because it’s coming off the bat so well.”
Abreu seems to be over the sore finger. He was the designated hitter in the first two games of the Rays series to allow his left shin heal up after taking a foul ball.
“I feel much better today,” Abreu said. “After the day off [Thursday], my leg feels fine. I feel good right
now.”
Abreu went into Friday’s game batting .295 with a team-high 19 homers and 64 RBI. He has six hitting
streaks of 13 games or more since last season, the most in the major leagues according to STATS. No other player has more than two such streaks. The Sox, who are on pace to hit 134 home runs this
season, which would be the lowest number since 1992, have picked up the power after the All-Star break
with 28 (fifth in the American League). They’ve homered in nine straight games, and Abreu is leading the way.
“I’ve been working on it since the All-Star break,” he said. “During the break I was watching some videos
and some things I wasn’t doing very well. Thank God I’ve been able to correct that and to hit to the opposite field, and it’s something I used to do and I feel good.”
Having that book hasn’t hurt, either, Abreu said familiarity with the league has been a plus.
“Finally,” he said. “This is the highest level in all of baseball. You have to make that adjustment. When
you have the opportunity to know the pitcher better, that gives you some kind of advantage, an upper hand.”
Out-of-sync White Sox sinking fast
Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago August 8, 2015
If the Chicago White Sox were a row boat, they would be stuck doing circles in the middle of a lake.
When they need half the group to row left, they only get people to row right and vice versa. Their inability to get in sync this season continued in dramatic fashion during a 7-6 defeat Saturday to the
Kansas City Royals.
When the White Sox had a dominating pitching staff in the first half of the season, the offense couldn't
score if it was spotted two runners on base every inning. Now that the bats have come alive -- Jose Abreu hit two home runs Saturday -- the pitching staff is having trouble getting batters out.
That row boat is now taking on water at an exceedingly fast rate and it's all because they couldn't get
their oars in the water at the same time.
"It has been tough for us to combine the defense with the pitching with the offense," Abreu said through
an interpreter. "It's hard to get wins when you can't combine that. But we have to try hard every day. This is a long season and if you want to win you have to be consistent in all areas."
Starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija has been all over the place and for the second time since the non-waiver
trade deadline has come and gone, he has struggled mightily. Samardzija gave up seven runs over 4 2/3
innings to the Royals on Saturday, six days after he gave up nine runs over 4 2/3 innings to the New York Yankees.
"As a pitching staff, we take a lot of pride in going out and being dominant every day out with who we
have," Samardzija said. "We have a great staff. When we get six runs, we should win those games. Our offense has been doing great. We're playing great defense. I'll speak for myself. You have to go out and
be a little better than the last couple of times, and we will for sure. You have to go back to work and put it behind you."
When the White Sox's starting staff was rolling, Samardzija was too. He lasted at least seven innings over
10 consecutive starts from June 7 until July 28.
Then came the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Some rumors had Samardzija being dealt to a
contending team. Instead, the White Sox had just come off a seven-game winning streak at Cleveland and Boston and the front office elected to see the season through by leaving the roster as it was
constructed.
It's hard to not draw a straight line from the decision to not trade Samardzija to his consecutive starts
that haven't gone five innings.
"You're trying not to let it," Samardzija said, when asked if the lack of a deadline deal could end up being
a distraction moving forward. "You go out and do your job. You can't use any excuses for nothing. You've just got to be better out on the mound."
It's not like Samardzija suddenly has nothing to pitch for. Even as the White Sox have fallen from 2 1/2
games back in the wild-card chase to seven games back in barely over a week, the right-hander is still
heading for free agency this winter and is looking to land a lucrative deal.
Samardzija's payday could be significantly lower if he doesn't produce, and whether or not his team is going anywhere makes little difference.
"He's not sitting there rethinking the trade deadline," manager Robin Ventura insisted. "He's going out
and you tip your cap to those guys; they're placing it in the right spots. They hit some hard, some not so
hard and it's tough with them because with their speed and athleticism, you have to be lock-down and it wasn't today."
Adam Eaton, who had a two-run single Saturday, has a hit in 14 of his last 16 games. Abreu has hit
safely in 17 of his last 18 games, batting .353 (24-for-68) over that stretch. He also has seven home runs
and 21 RBIs in that span.
But over the past nine games, White Sox starting pitchers have delivered a 9.60 ERA and John Danks is the only starter performing with any kind of consistency.
"This is a difficult sport; some days are good, other days you don't feel that good," Abreu said. "What
happened has happened. You can't control that or change that. We have to try to get our focus on
tomorrow and what we can do to win the game and take advantage of what we can control. We can't control the past."
For most of the season, Samardzija could have made a case that the defense or the offense wasn't
pulling its weight. He knows the area that is struggling now.
"When we put up six, you've got to win those games and that's when it falls on the pitching," he said.
Rapid Reaction: Royals 7, White Sox 6
Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago August 8, 2015
The Chicago White Sox fell 7-6 on Saturday in their second consecutive defeat at Kansas City and
seventh loss in their past nine games.
How it happened: After starting with three perfect innings, White Sox starter Jeff Samardzija only
recorded five more outs while giving up seven runs. Jose Abreu hit a pair of home runs -- the first in the fourth inning and another in the sixth -- to give him 21 on the season. Kendrys Morales and Salvador
Perez each had two hits and two RBIs for the Royals.
What it means: Samardzija's rocky ride in a White Sox uniform continued, and his ERA rose to 4.62. After
not getting dealt by the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, Samardzija has taken the mound twice, has failed to pitch five innings in either outing and has given up a combined 16 runs in two starts. In three
starts against the Royals this season, he has an 8.15 ERA, which gives him a 4.18 ERA against all other teams this year.
Outside the box: Abreu collected his fifth career multi-homer game, but it was just his first since June 27,
2014. Abreu had four multi-homer games over his first 67 career contests but needed 180 more games to hit more than one long ball in a game. It was also Abreu's seventh home run in the second half this
season, which matches his 2014 post-All-Star Game total.
Off-beat: The Royals' turnaround Saturday against Samardzija was quick and jarring. The right-hander
was mostly in control as he retired the first nine batters he faced. In the fourth inning, though, things got away quickly. The last 14 Royals batters Samardzija faced went single, walk, walk, fielder's choice,
ground out, single, single, popup, triple, hit batter, sacrifice fly, single, ground out, double.
Up next: The White Sox will send left-hander Jose Quintana (6-9, 3.50 ERA) to the mound Sunday in the finale of the three-game series. The Royals will counter with left-hander Danny Duffy (5-5, 4.04) in the
1:10 p.m. CT start at Kauffman Stadium.
Morales, Perez each drive in 2, KC beats White Sox 7-6
The Associated Press, ESPN Chicago
August 8, 2015
Salvador Perez had been scuffling.
In a 6-for-32 skid, Perez dropped in two opposite-field, two-out hits to drive in pair of runs and help the
Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 7-6 on Saturday night.
"Salvy is kind of like the Cracker Jack prize," said Royals manager Ned Yost. "You never know what
you're going to get from night to night. He can step up there and pop the ball from foul line to foul line. I wasn't really encouraged or surprised that he's able to do that."
White Sox right-hander Jeff Samardzija (8-6) failed to make it out of the fifth, giving up seven runs on six
hits, two walks and a hit-batter. In his past two starts, Samardzija has allowed 16 runs and 13 hits in 9
1/3 innings, escalating his ERA to 4.62.
"You play two good teams, and if you're not on your game, it's going to come back to get you," Samardzija said. "It doesn't change nothing. You've got five days and you start again, so we'll go back to
work and be ready next time."
Perez first RBI came in a three-run fourth.
Kendrys Morales, who also had two RBI, and Perez picked up back-to-back run-producing doubles with
two out in a four-run fifth. Jarrod Dyson led off the inning with a triple and scored on Mike Moustakas' sacrifice fly.
Jose Abreu homered to lead off the fourth and sixth innings for his fifth multi-homer game for the White Sox, but it wasn't enough.
Jeremy Guthrie (8-7), who was making his first start since July 29, picked up the victory, although he
gave up six runs on 10 hits, including both of Abreu's homers, in 5 2/3 innings.
"I couldn't get over the hump," Guthrie said. "I made the game closer than it should have been."
The Royals led 7-2 after five innings, but the White Sox batted around in a four-run sixth, which included
a two-run, two-out Adam Eaton single.
Greg Holland struck out the side in the ninth to claim his 25th save in 28 opportunities.
The Royals are 9-3 against the White Sox this season.
"I don't know if you expect this," Ventura said, "but you know guys are going to have a bump here and
there. This one, when you score that many against these guys, you have to kind of earn it. For them,
they put the runs up. It's our job to try to stop them, and right now it's just not happening."
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: Eaton was back in center field Saturday after leaving in the fourth inning Friday when he jammed his left shoulder making a catch. "You like his attitude," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said.
"He believes he needs get back in there and get after it. We're better when he's in there. It's that simple,
and he knows that."
Royals: OF Alex Gordon (strained left groin) took batting practice for the first time since going on the disabled list July 9. "I've still got a while," Gordon said. "I might look great, but there is still a lot of things
I've got to accomplish before I go out there."
UP NEXT
White Sox: LHP Jose Quintana is 0-6 with a 4.63 ERA in 15 career starts against the Royals.
Royals: LHP Danny Duffy is 3-1 with a 3.09 ERA in seven career starts against the White Sox, whom he
will be facing for the fourth time this year.
Blazing fast Nate Jones is willing to stay patient
Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago
August 8, 2015
Despite that 100 mph thunderbolt coming from his right hand on Friday, the Chicago White Sox will
continue to play it slow with reliever Nate Jones.
After 16 months away because of back injury and then Tommy John surgery, Jones made an impressive
return to a major-league mound. While most of his fastballs were clocked at 99 mph, he did reach triple digits once on the stadium scoreboard Friday night.
Jones hasn’t thrown that hard since 2013, the difference being that he looked a little more free and easy
with his velocity than he did two years ago. Jones credits some mechanical adjustments for getting him back on track after his right elbow was surgically repaired.
Jones essentially toyed with the Kansas City Royals in his one inning of work. He played off that 100 mph fastball with a 91 mph changeup and channeled all the excitement of his return into his pitching.
“The adrenaline was definitely there, but I talked to [coach Bobby Thigpen] out in the bullpen before I
came in and [pitching coach Don Cooper] the day of and the day before, just talking about using that
energy in a good way, bringing it toward the glove, and that’s all I was concentrating on, that mitt and giving everything I’ve got toward it.”
If Jones continues to pitch well, a set-up man role is in his future. But the White Sox will take their time
instead of forcing that development.
“Well, you have to see when he can get back in there and feel comfortable throwing like that [again],”
manager Robin Ventura said. “You know the first time going back out there he’s going to be up around 100 mph just because of his heart rate and being back on the field. It comes back to throwing strikes and
doing it over multiple days and back to back and stuff like that.”
Every step of the rehab process had its rewards for Jones. When he was pitching simulated games in
Arizona, it helped him to realize he could trust his arm and pitch pain free. When he was at Single-A Winston Salem on his rehab assignment, it was about knowing he could hit triple digits again. When he
closed out the rehab process at Triple-A Charlotte, he found his command.
“With each outing, you get more and more confidence knowing you can be here and belong here and do my best to try to stay here,” he said.
As far as becoming a set-up man with some 100 mph gas in his back pocket, Jones will be patient, just like the team.
“No, I don’t worry about that one,” Jones said when asked about hitting triple-digits on the radar gun. I
just worry about making sure I’m healthy after each pitch and just going and trying to throw strikes.”
Adam Eaton sore, but good enough to play
Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago
August 8, 2015
Asked if he feels better, Adam Eaton chuckled and left it at that.
The Chicago White Sox's center fielder didn't have to say anything Saturday to get across the idea that
he remains sore, but he was good enough to return to the starting lineup one day after leaving the game in the fourth inning with a jammed left shoulder.
"We've been dealing with this for a long time," Eaton said. "It's something we're going to continue to deal with and I'm glad (manager Robin Ventura) put me back in the lineup because I want to be back in
there. Get some meds in me. I told him give me my helmet and my gun and get me back in the trench. So I'm excited and it's just one of those things we'll dealing with."
Eaton injured himself after tracing down a Ben Zobrist drive over his head in center field. He made the catch then fell to the ground, extending his left arm as he hit the ground. He came up holding his arm to
his side, but further examination found no structural damage.
"It's more of a nerve thing that isn't going to get better in one day or two days so it's going to be there for a while," Ventura said. "He feels good enough to go out there and do something so we're kind of
going by that. If it was something I felt he could be compromised by going out there to play he wouldn't
be in there."
Eaton, who was co-American League player of the week last week along with teammate Jose Abreu, has scored 20 second-half runs, more than anybody else in the league. He has posted a .484 on-base
percentage in the second half, while recording a hit in 13 of his past 15 games.
And with time running out on the White Sox, who are six games back in the wild-card standings, Eaton
doesn't want to miss time now.
"We're getting to the days where we need to make a push and I want to be part of that with these guys,"
Eaton said. "They've put in hard hours all year and it's getting down to the nitty-gritty right now and I don't want to take a day off. Everyone is hurting right now."
Jeff Samardzija hit hard again as White Sox fall to Royals
Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago August 8, 2015
Jeff Samardzija has had a rough August.
The White Sox haven’t been any better.
Fantastic in July, Samardzija has allowed 16 earned runs in his past two starts, including seven Saturday as the White Sox fell to the Kansas City Royals 7-6 in front of 39,302 at Kauffman Stadium. Jose Abreu
hit two solo home runs and Adam Eaton singled in two more, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the White Sox from their seventh loss in nine tries. Once 2 1/2 games out in the wild-card race, the White Sox are
now seven back.
“When we get six runs, we should win those games,” Samardzija said. “Our offense has been doing
great. We’re playing great defense. I’ll speak for myself -- you have to go out and be a little better than the last couple of times, and we will for sure.”
White Sox starting pitchers have a 9.60 ERA in the team’s past nine games.
Samardzija -- who was 3-1 with a 2.27 ERA in five starts last month -- appeared to be on track to do something about that figure, as he was perfect through three innings.
But right after his team gifted him a two-run lead, Samardzija gave it back.
And while there were a few dinks and dunks in the bunch, Samardzija had no leeway after he issue a pair of walks. Alcides Escobar led off the fourth inning with a single and Samardzija quickly loaded the bases
with walks of Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain.
From there the bottom dropped out.
In between the fourth and fifth, Samardzija walked the two, hit another and allowed six hits, including
three with two outs as he fell behind 7-2. Kendrys Morales’ RBI double on a 1-2 pitch with two outs in the fifth ended Samardzija’s night. Over his past two starts, Samardzija has allowed 16 earned runs and 14
hits in 9 2/3 innings. His earned-run average has skyrocketed from 3.94 to 4.62.
“He was working from behind a lot … and he’s always better when he’s jumping ahead and getting guys
chasing or locating the fastball if they’re sitting on that,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “Those two innings especially he kind of put himself in trouble.
“You know guys are going to have a bump here or there.
“It’s our job to try and stop them and right now it’s not happening.”
The middle innings wiped out a strong effort by White Sox hitters. After they stranded a man on third in the third inning, Abreu got the White Sox going with a solo homer to left off Jeremy Guthrie (six earned
runs, 10 hits allowed). Melky Cabrera, who doubled, scored on an Adam LaRoche double play to give the White Sox a 2-0 lead in the fourth.
Even after they fell behind 7-2, the White Sox continued to battle, though a base running mistake by Geovany Soto ended a possible rally in the fifth when he was picked off with Abreu up and two aboard.
“Especially with Josey at the plate you have to make sure that guy goes home,” Ventura said. “I’m sure
he’s kicking himself.”
Abreu began the sixth inning with a solo homer to make it 7-3. Carlos Sanchez singled in a run with two
outs and Eaton sliced the lead to a run with a two-run single off Luke Hochevar. But Ryan Madson, Kelvin Herrera and Greg Holland combined for three scoreless innings to hold off the White Sox.
“It has been tough for us to combine the defense with the pitching with the offense,” Abreu said through
an interpreter. “It’s hard to get wins when you can’t combine that. But we have to try hard every day.
This is a long season and if you want to win you have to be consistent in all areas.”
Nate Jones' first game since 2014 helps to rebuild confidence
Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago
August 8, 2015
He’ll have to provide more evidence but Nate Jones could quickly work his way up the food chain in the White Sox bullpen.
There’s no question the White Sox have some logistics to work out with Jones, who Friday appeared in
his first game since April 3, 2014.
Jones, who struck out two in a scoreless inning in a 3-2 White Sox loss, has to prove his surgically
repaired right elbow can handle a heavy workload. He also must demonstrate he can repeat the performance against said workload and show he can throw in consecutive games.
“You have to see when he can get back in there and feel comfortable throwing like that,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “You know the first time going back out there he’s going to be up around
100 mph just because of his heart rate and being back on the field. It comes back to throwing strikes and doing it over multiple days and back to back and stuff like that.”
Just about everyone was impressed with how Jones handled himself in an emotion-filled outing. Before the right-hander unleashed a torrent of 99- and 100-mph fastballs, Jones took several deep breaths on
the mound. He then settled in to dominate Eric Hosmer, Kendrys Morales and Mike Moustakas, striking out the last two.
“It was like the whole rehab process was coming to an end,” Jones said. “There’s a lot of frustration, a lot
of anxiety, a lot of excitement, a lot of adrenaline, and it all came out right there. It was good, I was
fortunate enough I was able to do my job and keep it under control.”
Not only did Jones offer the high heat, he averaged 92-mph with his slider and threw it for strikes on six of seven pitches. Jones said he gets further removed from thinking about his elbow with every pitch and
credits work in simulated games for his good command.
Given his lengthy absence and a deliberate rehab, Jones probably isn’t expecting a quick ascent into a
higher-leverage role. For now he wants to continue to rebuild the confidence he belongs. Friday’s outing should go a long way toward both.
“To see their reactions, to see what they’re doing to your pitches and adjusting off that, it was a great
test for sure because they don’t take it easy on you,” Jones said.
“I want to be one of the guys and just blend in and do my job.”
Jammed shoulder doesn't slow down Adam Eaton
Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago
August 8, 2015
In somewhat of a surprise, Adam Eaton returned to the White Sox starting lineup on Saturday, less than 24 hours after an early exit.
Normally, Eaton -- who left in the fourth inning of Friday’s game with a jammed shoulder -- would sit out the next day. But a series of factors led to the leadoff man playing Saturday night, including the fact that
he has been outstanding since he originally hurt the shoulder diving in Cleveland two weeks ago. Eaton said he also received an “all clear” when he had an MRI performed during Friday’s game.
And, of course, the White Sox are in desperate need of a victory and Eaton never likes to miss a day.
“It’s not a structural thing,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “It’s more of a nerve thing that isn’t going to get better in one days or two days so it’s going to be there for a while. He feels good enough to
go out there and do something so we’re kind of going by that and let them. If it was something I felt he could be compromised by going out there to play he wouldn’t be in there. Usually it is the case that the
guy comes out of the game the night before for some reason, you’re not going to put him back in there.
In talking to Herm (Schneider) and Adam, they feel he can be out there.”
Eaton hurt himself diving in a July 25 game in Cleveland and exited a few innings later. He didn’t play the next day, either.
Since he returned on July 27, Eaton has a .405/.490/.619 slash line with four doubles, a triple, a homer and four RBIs in 49 plate appearances.
“We've been dealing with this for a long time,” Eaton said. “Something we're going to continue to deal
with and I'm glad Skip put me back in the lineup because I want to be back in there. “
“We're getting to the days where we need to make a push and I want to be part of that with these guys.
They've put in hard hours all year and it's getting down to the nitty gritty right now and I don't want to take a day off. Everyone is hurting right now.”
Eaton said he had to convince Ventura some to return to the lineup. But Ventura said Schneider’s
argument counts more than Eaton’s and the White Sox trainer offered his approval.
“You like the fact that Adam wants to be in there and play,” Ventura said. “But the doctors and the
medical people are the ones you take more weight with.”
Trayce Thompson enjoying the spotlight after first two MLB hits
Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago
August 8, 2015
Not only did Trayce Thompson receive the authenticated baseball, he was showered with congratulatory text messages after notching his first two career hits Friday.
The White Sox rookie’s first hit came via an infield single in the sixth inning and two innings later he had a ground-rule double to left. Thompson, who was promoted to the majors on Aug. 1, said he has
experienced the same volume of text messages before but those were related to his brother Klay, who won an NBA Finals championship with the Golden State Warriors in June.
“Last night was kind of crazy,” Thompson said. “I tried to respond to everyone I can. But to get texts from my brothers, my parents, was pretty cool. I always talk to them after every game and one of my
good friends who plays baseball, too. It’s been kind of a whirlwind the past week. The only time my phone has gone crazy like that is when Klay had that game back in January.”
Klay Thompson established an NBA record on Jan. 24 when he scored 37 points against the Sacramento
Kings in the third quarter, the most ever for an individual in any quarter. The youngest of three brothers,
all of whom have played at the highest level of their respective sports, Trayce Thompson has been inundated with media requests to discuss Klay’s success and answers them all without fail. He has
enjoyed the success of his brothers (Mychel played for the Cleveland Cavaliers) and is always willing to talk. But for one night at least, the shoe was on the other foot and the outfielder didn’t mind.
“It’s just funny that people are texting me about myself instead of him,” Thompson said with a smile.
White Sox-Royals Preview
The Associated Press, FOX Sports August 9, 2015
Jose Quintana has been remarkably consistent for much of the season after a rough first couple of months. A win against Kansas City has remained elusive, however.
He'll look to end one of the worst individual pitching slumps against one opponent in history Sunday as
the Chicago White Sox visit the Royals.
Quintana (6-9, 3.50 ERA) gave up five or more runs three times while going 2-5 in his first nine starts.
Since then, he has recorded quality starts in 12 of 13 games.
The only non-quality outing in that span came against Kansas City, however, as the left-hander surrendered four runs and 10 hits over 5 1-3 innings in a 7-6, 13-inning home loss July 18. The White
Sox rallied in the ninth to take him off the hook for a loss, as he remained 0-6 with a 4.63 ERA in 15 all-time matchups without a decision in three meetings this year.
Only six other pitchers since 1914 have failed to record a win in at least their first 15 starts against a
single opponent, and three, Herm Wehmeier against St. Louis, and Don Larsen and Joe Mays against
Cleveland, finished their careers winless against that club. Quintana is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in three starts since last facing the Royals, including his first career
complete game his next time out at Cleveland.
He'll be dealing with a lineup that continues to come up big in key situations. The Royals (65-44) put
themselves in position for a three-game sweep by going 4 for 8 with runners in scoring position in Saturday's 7-6 win, and are batting .326 in those situations over their last eight contests.
Kansas City got two hits and two RBIs apiece from Kendrys Morales and Salvador Perez, while Lorenzo
Cain hit safely for the 16th time in 17 meetings. Cain, who is batting .412 with 15 RBIs in that span, is hitting .368 with 13 extra-base hits in his last 20 home games.
Cain is batting .357 off lefties this season and is 5 for 8 with two doubles against Quintana this year.
Chicago (51-57) was led by two solo shots from Jose Abreu, but fell to 3-9 in the season series. The White Sox's six-game losing streak in Kansas City is their longest there since dropping eight in a row Aug.
26, 1984-Sept. 4, 1985.
"This one, when you score that many against these guys, you have to kind of earn it," manager Robin
Ventura said. "For them, they put the runs up. It's our job to try to stop them, and right now it's just not happening."
The Royals turn to a southpaw as well in Danny Duffy (5-5, 4.04), who has completed six or more innings
while allowing two runs or fewer in five of his last six outings. He bounced back from a five-run, three-
homer start by limiting Detroit to one run over seven innings in a 5-1 victory Tuesday, though he walked four for the second straight time.
Duffy is 1-0 with a 2.95 ERA in three matchups with Chicago this year, most recently holding the White
Sox to one run over a career-best eight-plus innings in a 4-1 win July 19.
Chicago's .342 slugging percentage versus left-handers ranks last in the AL, though Abreu is 5 for 13 with
a home run and double against Duffy.
