Chicago White Sox's Danish starts, gets first win
Tyler Danish expected to have some early jitters Saturday, and he did.
Making his first major-league start in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field, Danish needed 29 pitches to get through the first inning.
“I definitely was nervous in the first inning,” he said. “I was expecting it. I came in and tried to pitch as well as I could with that. But I did settle in after the first couple innings and just started breathing a little more.”
With the help of some strong defense from second baseman Yolmer Sanchez and shortstop Tim Anderson, Danish worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and wound up getting his first major-league win.
“He worked through a little bit of traffic and got out of it,” manager Rick Renteria said after the White Sox beat Detroit 3-0 in Game 1.
In picking up his first major-league win, Danish went 5 innings and allowed 3 hits. The 23-year-old righty also had 6 walks and 6 strikeouts while throwing 104 pitches.
“Obviously, you don't want 6 (walks) every game, but I thought I made good pitches when I needed to,” Danish said.
Even if he gets sent back down to Class AAA Charlotte, Danish is going to remember his first start for the Sox.
“You dream as a kid to pitch in the big leagues,” he said. “To get my first win in my first career start was special. I'm glad my mom was here; I'm glad she got to enjoy that. It was a very special day, something I'll always remember.”
Sox fall in Game 2:
Behind starting pitcher Buck Farmer, the Tigers bounced back in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader, hanging on to beat the Sox 4-3.
Farmer allowed 3 hits over 6⅓ innings while striking out 11.
“I thought their guy and our guy (White Sox starter Derek Holland) threw pretty well,” manager Rick Renteria said. “(Farmer) had a lot of action on his pitches. It was tough to get anything started.”
Holland pitched 6 innings and allowed 1 run on 7 hits. The Sox rallied for 3 runs in the ninth inning, the final 2 scoring on Yolmer Sanchez's one-out triple. Pinch hitter Todd Frazier and Adam Engel struck out to end the game.
“We continue to fight and gave them a nice little finish at the end,” Renteria said. “Came up a little short.”
Saladino to DL:
After leaving Friday's game with back spasms, infielder Tyler Saladino landed on the 10-day disabled list with what officially was ruled as back spasms.
“I don't have a timetable,” Saladino said. “At least 10 days. It's like a sciatic nerve related thing. Kind of ruled the back out of it. Going to try to find a way to get it to calm down.”
Engel joins Sox:
Outfielder Adam Engel came up from Class AAA Charlotte to take Tyler Saladino's roster spot.
Engel pinch ran late in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader, and he made his first major-league start in Game 2. Playing left field, Engel was 1-for-4.
He got his first hit in the eighth inning, a single to left field.
At Charlotte, the 25-year-old outfielder was batting .221 with 8 home runs and 17 RBI in 42 games. Engel made an adjustment and hit .284 in his last 21 games with the Knights.
“Just made an adjustment with my hands, kind of picked them up a little bit,” he said. “I have been kind of getting them behind me, kind of putting me in a tough position to hit. I just picked them up and I feel like I'm in a better position.”