Fulmer flounders in first start with White Sox
Carson Fulmer made 8 relief appearances for the Chicago White Sox last season, a year after being the No. 8 overall pick in the amateur draft.
Fulmer was back with the Sox Tuesday, making his first major-league start in Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field.
It did not go well.
Fulmer retired the Twins in order in the first inning, but the 23-year-old righty gave up a walk, single, 3-run homer, single, walk and another 3-run shot in the second.
After issuing another walk and an error on third baseman Yolmer Sanchez, Fulmer was pulled from the game. Minnesota went on to a 10-2 win after the White Sox were 7-6 winners in Game 1.
"I fell behind quite a bit and when I made a mistake I paid for it," Fulmer said. "You just have to learn from it and move on."
Called up as the 26th man for the doubleheader, Fulmer was returned to Class AAA Charlotte after the game. The White Sox also optioned relief pitcher Brad Goldberg to Charlotte.
"They were on every pitch," manager Rick Renteria said of Fulmer. "Didn't matter if it was a fastball or a breaking ball, they were on time. They were seeing them pretty well."
Moncada returns:
After sitting out Saturday and Sunday at Texas, second baseman Yoan Moncada was back in the White Sox's lineup Monday for Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Twins.
Hampered by right shin splints, Moncada did not play in Game 2.
"We'll continue to go back and try to calm it down a little," manager Rick Renteria said. "It takes time. They're treating it. There's a wrap on it that hopefully compresses it to minimize the discomfort. Most of it is just how much you can do while still dealing with a little bit of the pain."
Kopech debut:
Making his first start for Class AAA Charlotte Monday night after being promoted from AA Birmingham, 21-year-old righty Michael Kopech gave up 1 run on 3 hits in his first inning of work against Norfolk.
Kopech settled in after that and wound up getting the win after pitching 5 innings and allowing 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks to go with 4 strikeouts.
On the mend:
On the 10-day disabled list with a strained back, rookie starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez played catch in the outfield before Monday's doubleheader and appeared to be in much better health.
"I think he's doing very, very well, manager Rick Renteria said. "I ask him every day. (Sunday) night before we got off the plane, he said he's feeling much better. Now it's a matter of where he's at, and what we start doing with him activity wise before he gets back in the rotation."
Out since Aug. 2 with a bruised right wrist, third baseman Matt Davidson is close to going on a rehab assignment with Charlotte.