Davidson connects again as White Sox knock out Cleveland

In last Sunday's game against Minnesota at Guaranteed Rate Field, the Chicago White Sox were trailing the Twins 4-0 but they had a big rally brewing in the eighth inning.

Loading the bases with one out, Matt Davidson came to the plate against reliever Matt Belisle, who was laboring.

Davidson took a big hack at the first pitch and missed. He took a big hack at the second pitch and missed. After taking a close third pitch for a ball, Davidson took another big swing at Belisle's fourth pitch and struck out.

After the game - the Sox lost 4-1 - White Sox manager Rick Renteria said he was fine with Davidson's at-bat, even though he came up empty.

"We were in a situation where we need him to just put a really good swing on a pitch," Renteria said. "He was trying to put a good swing on a pitch and run into one. And it wasn't that he was trying to hit a homer, just putting velocity and impact and determination into his swing. He ended up swinging through a couple pitches."

The old Davidson swung through a lot of pitches, and after leading the International League in strikeouts in 2014-15 while playing third base/designated hitter for Class AAA Charlotte, it looked like he'd never reach the Sox.

Last season, Davidson changed his approach.

Shortening his swing at Triple-A, Davidson still hit for power while raising his on-base percentage to .349, up from .293 the season before and .283 in 2014.

Finally earning the call from the White Sox on June 30, Davidson played in one game and broke his right foot running the bases after singling in his second at-bat.

He's back healthy this season, and Davidson has already shown he's going to strike out at times.

But with his new approach still intact, the 26-year-old Californian is making some impressive contact.

Making his second straight start at third base Thursday night in place of Todd Frazier (flu), Davidson sparked the White Sox to a 10-4 win over the Indians at Progressive Field.

The Sox jumped on Cleveland starter Josh Tomlin early. Tim Anderson led off the game with a home run and Davidson added a 3-run homer as the White Sox raced out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning.

"Like last year, you get to a good spot where I thought I was, then you break your foot," Davidson said. "You take it day-by-day. That's something Ricky preaches every day, taking the process, taking your work, every single day, every at-bat."

Through the first 8 games of the season, Davidson has a .333/.368/.844 slash line with a pair of 3-run homers.

Avisail Garcia had another big game as the Sox took two of three from the Indians, going 3-for-4 with 3 RBI. The right fielder upped his batting average to .452.

• Before Thursday's game, the White Sox placed catcher Geovany Soto on the 10-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation.

Kevan Smith had his contract purchased from Class AAA Charlotte, and he replaces Soto after batting .438 in 4 games with the Knights.

• Left fielder Melky Cabrera is taking a paternity leave this weekend and he won't play against the Twins.

Willy Garcia is expected to come up from Charlotte to take Cabrera's roster spot.

Scouting report

White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins at Target Field

TV: Comcast SportsNet Friday and Sunday; WGN Saturday

Radio: WLS 890-AM

Pitching matchups: The White Sox's Dylan Covey (0-0) vs. Adalberto Mejía (0-1) Friday at 7:10 p.m.; Jose Quintana (0-2) vs. Ervin Santana (2-0) Saturday at 1:10 p.m.; James Shields (1-0) vs. Hector Santiago (1-1) Sunday at 3:10 p.m.

At a glance: After winning two of three at Cleveland on their first road trip of the season, the Sox move on to Minnesota for a rematch against the Twins. At Guaranteed Rate Field last weekend, the White Sox lost two of three to Minnesota. Covey, selected in the December Rule 5 Draft from Oakland, makes his first major-league start in the series opener. The right-hander was limited to 6 starts for Class AA Midland in 2016 and was 2-1 with a 1.84 ERA before missing the rest of the season with a strained right oblique. Mejia lasted just 1⅔ innings vs. the Sox last Saturday, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 2 hits and 2 walks.

Next: New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Monday-Wednesday

- Scot Gregor