Flowers off to terrific start
Ever since A.J. Pierzynski exited via free agency and signed a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers in late December, Tyler Flowers was more than a little worried about replacing the White Sox’ popular catcher.
Flowers still knows he has some huge shoes to fill, but he’s wasted little time making a positive impression on his team and Sox fans.
It’s only two games into the season, but White Sox pitchers have yielded just 1 earned run in 2 wins over the Royals.
At the plate, Flowers decided Monday’s 1-0 win with a home run. The 27-year-old Atlanta native hit another solo shot and singled in Wednesday’s 5-2 win over Kansas City.
“It’s great because I know how much pressure that he’s probably been putting on himself following a guy like A.J., who obviously did a lot of great things here,” Adam Dunn said of Flowers. “But any time you come in and take over for a guy, you want to go out and just jump out to a great start. A lot of times you put too much pressure on yourself. He hasn’t done that so far, obviously, and he’s done everything. He called two great games and also won us a couple.”
Flowers has always made handling the pitching staff his No. 1 priority. If he contributes with the bat, even better.
“I guess it’s good,” Flowers said. “ I’d be just as happy if it was some line drives, hits or outs. I’m just looking for quality at-bats right now. The hits and all that stuff, the home runs, that will all take care of itself as long as you focus on every at-bat and get a quality at-bat.”
Konerko ties Thomas:Paul Konerko#146;s double in the sixth inning gave him 2,136 hits in a White Sox uniform, tying him with Frank Thomas for third place on the club#146;s all-time list.#147;Any time you get mentioned with Frank, hitting-wise, it#146;s nice,#148; Konerko said. #147;He#146;s definitely the best hitter this organization#146;s ever seen and probably will ever see. So to be mentioned up there with him and have a number that#146;s in the same ballpark in any regard is kind of cool.#148;Bombs away:Adam Dunn put the Sox in front Wednesday with a solo home run off Royals starter Ervin Santana leading off the second inning.Acting on his plan to be more aggressive early in the count, Dunn drilled Santana#146;s first pitch 431 feet into the right-field bleachers.#147;It#146;s one of those things where I don#146;t really care how far they go,#148; Dunn said. #147;All I care about is good at-bats and putting good wood on it. If it goes out, cool. If it doesn#146;t, you did all you could.#148;