More rough weather washes out Chicago White Sox
In Friday's home opener, the Chicago White Sox had to deal with snow showers and winter temperatures.
On Saturday, icy conditions closed the upper deck at U.S. Cellular Field.
Both games were played, and the Sox lost the first to the Cleveland Indians before bouncing back with a 7-3 victory Saturday.
In keeping with the lousy weather trend for the first homestand of the season, it rained Sunday. Less than an hour before the scheduled first pitch, the game was postponed. On May 23, the Sox and Indians will play a makeup game at 4:10 p.m. as part of a straight doubleheader.
"I think when we kept looking at the weather, we had Tito (Cleveland manager Terry Francona) in there, too, you start getting the reports of what it's going to be and there's a chance you lose both starters," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said.
"It was going to be steady rain all day long. There weren't really good reports. You take that into consideration and move on."
Jose Quintana, Sunday's scheduled Sox starting pitcher, now goes Monday at Minnesota. After Tuesday's day off, Carlos Rodon pitches against the Twins on Wednesday and Mat Latos starts Thursday.
"It just seems when you play here, you have to be ready for that," Ventura said of bad weather. "You have to understand that's just part of being in the Midwest."
The Indians can relate. Three of their first seven games have been postponed.
Up and down:
Adam Eaton was placed on the paternity leave list Sunday, so the White Sox called up right-handed pitcher Michael Ynoa from Class AA Birmingham to take his roster spot.
The game was postponed by rain, and Eaton was expected to be on the team's charter flight to Minnesota and back in the lineup Monday. On Saturday, Eaton's wife, Katie, gave birth to the couple's first child, son Brayden, in Chicago.
Ynoa, who along with Jeff Samardzija was acquired in a 2014 trade from the Oakland Athletics, made 1 relief appearance for Birmingham this season and pitched a scoreless inning.
"I'm still in shock," the 6-foot-7 Ynoa said about getting the call from the Sox, even if it was just for one postponed game. "I'm happy to be here and thanks to the White Sox for giving me this opportunity. I'm really happy."
Ynoa, 24, made a positive impression in spring training, pitching 5 scoreless innings of relief in the Cactus League while striking out six.
"Michael had an interesting day," manager Robin Ventura said after Sunday's game was called. "It's good for him. I think he would have much rather there had been a game, but you are taking a young kid that earned an opportunity to come up here. He gets to be in the clubhouse, put his uniform on, feel a part of it."
Last season, two bouts with shoulder discomfort limited Ynoa to 28 relief appearances with high Class A Winston-Salem, where he was 0-2 with a 2.61 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 38 innings.
"He can spin it," Ventura said. "You start looking at the size and the release coming out of his hand, he deserves to be here."
In addition to last year's shoulder issues, Ynoa had Tommy John surgery in 2011.
"That was my focus in the off-season, to work hard and be ready for anything and try to be healthy," Ynoa said. "I worked a lot in the off-season and I think that this was my first year to feel like I'm ready to go."
White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins at Target Field
TV: Comcast SportsNet Monday and Thursday; WPWR Wednesday
Radio: WLS 890-AM
Pitching matchups: The Sox' Jose Quintana (0-0) vs. Kyle Gibson (0-1) Monday at 3:10 p.m.; Carlos Rodon (0-1) vs. Phil Hughes (0-1) Wednesday at 7:10 p.m.; Mat Latos (1-0) vs. Ervin Santana (0-0) Thursday at 7:10 p.m.
At a glance: The White Sox are back on the road after going 1-1 at home against the Indians before Sunday's game was rained out. The Sox won three of four at Oakland to open the season. The White Sox's bullpen has a 1.76 ERA in the early going. Adam Eaton is expected back after missing Saturday's game on paternity leave. Eaton is batting .450 (9-for-20) and had 2 or more hits in each of the first four games. The Sox were 6-13 against the Twins last season and have lost nine of their last 11 at Target Field.
Next: Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, Friday-Sunday
- Scot Gregor