Gonzalez gets job done in first start for White Sox
Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 180 pounds, Miguel Gonzalez doesn't measure up to most major-league starting pitchers.
But the Chicago White Sox's underrated right-hander showed why he's still in the game on Saturday, pitching 6 innings and allowing 2 runs on 7 hits in his first outing of the season.
"Gonzy did a nice job today," manager Rick Renteria said. "He attacked the zone. We needed him to give us some length and he did."
In the first inning, the Twins loaded the bases with one out and didn't score.
They had a runner on third base with two outs in the second and didn't score.
They had a runner on second base with two outs in the fourth and didn't score.
"When runners are on base, in scoring position, hitters seem to get a little more anxious and I've always tried to use that to my advantage," said Gonzalez, who is in his second season with the Sox after spending his first four years with the Orioles. "After having seven days off it was a little tough, but I was able to minimize damage and be under control after that and I just started rolling. I think (catcher Geovany) Soto did a really good job back there changing speeds in that first inning. That kept me in the game."
Sox killer:
Ryan Raburn has been a bench player for most of his 11 major-league seasons with the Tigers, Indians and Rockies.
The 35-year-old outfielder has a modest .253/.317/.436 hitting line with 91 home runs and 352 RBI in 922 games, but Raburn has been torching the White Sox for years.
In 122 games against the Sox, Raburn slashed .296/.354/.518 with 20 homers and 82 RBI.
On Saturday, Raburn agreed to terms on a minor-league contract. He'll report to Class AAA Charlotte.
Raburn could eventually join the White Sox as an outfielder/designated hitter.
He was with the Reds this spring and released at the end of training camp.
Also reporting to Charlotte on Saturday was veteran starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey, who signed a minor-league deal with the White Sox on Wednesday.
Even though he has an $8 million salary this season, the Tigers released Pelfrey on March 30.
Learning curve:
Manager Rick Renteria wasted little time pulling rookie center fielder Jacob May aside and discussing a young mistake.
In Friday night's 3-1 loss to the Twins, the Sox drew back-to-back walks off Minnesota relief pitcher Brandon Kintzler with 2 outs in the ninth inning.
May came to the plate and, instead of continuing to make Kintzler work, he swung at the first pitch and grounded out to end the game.
"I think more than anything, you have emotions that are a factor," Renteria said. "And when emotions take over, you lose sight of the situation. What was actually going on. You know, what was that pitcher? Was he in trouble? Was he throwing strikes? We broke it down a little bit last night. We spoke to him to help him understand what's going on so that he can take a step back, take the big picture in and go in there and slow it down a little bit.
"Everybody goes in there wanting to be the guy. In this instance, you have to prepare them for the all the particular situations. Getting on base, working the at-bat would have been just as good as a basehit."