Royals roll over White Sox; complete 3-game sweep
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - To be completely honest, any major-league team playing the Royals to open the season at suddenly raucous Kauffman Stadium would have likely been spanked.
"If someone were to say we're hitting on all cylinders, I'd have to agree," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said.
For the third straight game, the defending American League champion Royals were simply better than the White Sox on Thursday.
In a 4-1 win, starter Edinson Volquez was better than Sox counterpart John Danks, Kansas City's offense hit better, the Royals caught the ball better, their bullpen was better and, once again, they did all of the little things it takes to win.
As a result, the 0-3 White Sox are off to their worst start since 2003.
Adam Eaton showed off his defensive skills in the third inning when he robbed Mike Moustaksas of an extra-base hit with a remarkable diving catch.
After the loss, Eaton wasn't beaming about the Gold Glove play.
"I don't really give two (bleeps) about the play, to be honest with you," he said. "It saved a run, but we need to win a ballgame. It's a great play, whatever, but it's what you're supposed to do."
The Sox didn't play awful in the last 2 losses to Kansas City after getting blown out 10-1 in Monday's opener, but they didn't measure up.
"They're going good," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of the Royals. "They're swinging it. It does a lot when you get in the playoffs and make a run like that. At first you hope to make it in, and they know what it takes to get there."
The shaky start aside, the Sox still consider themselves playoff contenders.
"They just played better than us for three games," Danks said after pitching 5⅔ innings and allowing 4 runs on 7 hits. "It would have been nice to win a couple here. It's not over. We have a lot of baseball left. We still feel good about what we have here.
"I don't really put too much into their team and think of ours. Certainly there are things we need to do better, and we will. That's the way it's going to be. We have too much talent in here to keep playing like this, but we'll do better."
The offense was shut down for the second time in three games, but the Royals' defense had something to do with that.
Lorenzo Cain made two great plays in center and third baseman Moustaksas also made the highlight reel.
It is safe to say the White Sox were happy to head back to stormy Chicago, where they'll face a much lesser opponent, the Minnesota Twins, in Friday's home opener.
"We've got to see a little more, a few more games, before we can start making a synopsis of how the season's going to go and what the teams are going to be like," Eaton said. "We're all right. We'll be fine. There's no freaking out in here. Just a little frustration right now."
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White Sox scouting report
White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins at U.S. Cellular Field
TV: Comcast SportsNet Friday and Sunday; WGN Saturday
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Pitching matchups: The White Sox' Hector Noesi (0-0) vs. Tommy Milone (0-0) Friday at 3:10 p.m.; Jeff Samardzija (0-1) vs. Mike Pelfrey (0-0) Saturday at 1:10 p.m.; Chris Sale (0-0) vs. Phil Hughes (0-1) Sunday at 1:10 p.m.
At a glance: The White Sox have won seven straight home openers and 12 of their last 13. The Sox were 9-10 vs. Minnesota last season (5-4 at the Cell). Sale didn't pitch in the Cactus League after fracturing his right foot in late February, but the White Sox' ace said he's feeling good and ready to go after pitching in two minor-league games. After being acquired in a July 31 trade from Oakland last season, Milone was 0-1 with a 7.06 ERA in six games (5 starts) with the Twins. In 4 career starts vs. the Sox, the left-hander is 1-0 with a 1.82 ERA. The Twins lost three straight to Detroit to open the season and scored only 1 run in the series. The White Sox' 1-2 hitters, Adam Eaton and Melky Cabrera, were a combined 3-for-24 vs. Kansas City.
Next: Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field, Tuesday-Wednesday
- Scot Gregor