Samardzija roughed up in first start with White Sox

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - At some point, the White Sox are confident Jeff Samardzija is going to be a dominant starting pitcher.

It just hasn't happened yet.

Samardzija, who cost the Sox four rated prospects in a December trade with Oakland, struggled in spring training while going 1-3 with an 8.44 ERA. He also allowed 9 home runs in 21⅓ Cactus League innings.

The White Sox expressed zero concern with the right-hander's Cactus League showing, and they also were OK with Samardzija's start in Monday's 10-1 loss to the Royals in the season opener.

"He pitched well enough, but we weren't scoring, we weren't helping him out at all," manager Robin Ventura said.

Samardzija (0-1) pitched 6 innings against Kansas City and allowed 5 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks. He only had 1 strikeout.

"I've got to go back and look and add it all up and see what happened," he said. "You know, they're a fastball-hitting team and I've had Sveumer (Royals hitting coach/former Cubs manager Dale Sveum) with me a few years and he knows what I like to do.

"They're looking for a ball out over the plate, and we're trying to get some of that plate back and mix in some off-speed pitches.

"They found some holes and those walks make you work out of the stretch a little too much. You want to be in the windup in a good rhythm and throwing your fastball and working off that. When you don't have that good rhythm going against a good team like that you're going to be battling all day."

Lorenzo Cain almost went after the Sox' new starter in the fifth inning. After Mike Moustakas hit a solo home run to put K.C. ahead 4-0, Samardzija hit Cain with his next pitch.

Samardzija did not respond when Cain stopped on his way to first base and voiced his displeasure.

"Just hit him," Samardzija said. "He didn't like it. I didn't like it. I didn't want to hit him. He probably didn't feel good, so he didn't like it. Boys playing baseball, no big deal."