Bats come alive as White Sox rally to beat Blue Jays
How good has the Chicago White Sox's starting rotation been this season?
Heading into Monday night's game at Toronto, the Sox delivered 15 quality starts in 17 games.
That's an impressive way to begin the season, and combined with an equally effective bullpen, the White Sox opened a three-game series against the Blue Jays with the lowest ERA (2.28) in the American League.
After Sunday's win over the Texas Rangers at U.S. Cellular Field, the Sox announced they were purchasing Miguel Gonzalez's contract from Class AAA Charlotte.
Was Gonzalez, a reliable starter with Baltimore from 2012-14 before dropping off last year and being released by the Orioles in spring training, auditioning for a permanent spot in the White Sox's rotation?
"That's to be determined," manager Robin Ventura said.
If first impressions mean anything, Gonzalez might be heading back to Charlotte after lasting just 5⅓ innings against the Jays and allowing 5 runs on 11 hits and 2 walks.
The pitching has been the early strength, but the offense picked up Gonzalez, erased a 5-1 deficit and carried the Sox to a 7-5 win at Rogers Centre.
The White Sox's bats came alive in the seventh inning with 5 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks. Adam Eaton got the rally started with a 2-run single and Todd Frazier capped the big inning with a 2-run double.
"Just keep fighting, that's our mentality," Eaton said on the Comcast SportsNet postgame show. "Keep fighting, and that's what we did."
With their fourth straight win, the Sox improved to 14-6.
"It's been fun," said Eaton, who also made two strong throws from right field. "We've been enjoying this and we hope to keep it going."
While Gonzalez struggled in his White Sox debut, Zach Putnam (1-0), Dan Jennings, Matt Albers and David Robertson (eighth save) came out of the bullpen and pitched 3⅔ scoreless innings of relief against Toronto's high-powered offense.
•Kevan Smith, who came up from Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday when Alex Avila (hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list, was scheduled to make his major-league debut Monday night and catch for the White Sox.
Smith was scratched before the game with back spasms.
•According to a report in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu allegedly paid $5.8 million to three agents who helped smuggle him out of his native Cuba.
The Tribune reports Abreu made three payments to Bart Hernandez, Julio Estrada and Amin Latouff, who have all been indicted for human trafficking, during 2014, his rookie season with the Sox.
Hernandez, who has represented several Cuban players including Abreu and Chicago Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler, was arrested in February on charges of alien smuggling.