All the Chicago White Sox needed was to go home.
After starting the season 1-5 on the road, the White Sox are coming off a sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays and will look for their fourth consecutive win Monday night when they host the struggling Baltimore Orioles.
The White Sox had not started their home schedule at 3-0 since 2004. And they hadn’t swept the Blue Jays since 1995.
“We are a good team,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “We are finding different ways to win. Contributions from everybody. With the way our group is set up, that’s how we are going to have to win games.”
White Sox starter Davis Martin allowed four hits over six innings on Sunday in a 3-0 win. Miguel Vargas, Austin Hays and Lenyn Sosa each had an RBI.
“It’s gigantic,” Martin said. “To win a series is great, but a sweep is even better. You have to continue to trust our way of playing baseball and, going forward, having fun.”
The Orioles are coming off the opposite end of a three-game sweep after an 8-2 road loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. Baltimore starter Chris Bassitt, a significant offseason signing, allowed six runs in two innings.
“We still have a lot of work to do,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said. “We’re trying to redefine ourselves as getting back to fundamental baseball, playing clean baseball, doing the little things right — and we’re still not done. We still have to get better, and that’s on myself and the coaching staff to keep on pushing our guys to get better each day, especially in those areas.”
For the White Sox, right-hander Grant Taylor (0-0, 2.25 ERA) is expected to act as the opener for the third time in the past four games. He started the Friday and Saturday games vs. Toronto and pitched a scoreless first inning in each contest.
Right-hander Erick Fedde (0-1, 5.40 ERA) is scheduled to follow Taylor. Fedde is 2-1 with a 1.26 ERA in five career games (four starts) against Baltimore.
The Orioles had not named a starter as of Monday morning.
The White Sox called up Tanner Murray from Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday. He was 0-for-2 in his major league debut but made a superb defensive play at shortstop on Addison Barger’s grounder to snuff Toronto’s bases-loaded threat in the third inning.
“We know he’s a plus defender out there,” Venable said. “It’s one of the reasons he’s here. Really nice job and a great day for Tanner.”
He was promoted when outfielder Everson Pereira was put on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left ankle.
The Orioles recalled left-hander Cade Povich from Triple-A Norfolk and put right-hander Yaramil Hiraldo on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. Povich pitched 5 2/3 innings in relief on Sunday, allowing two runs, four hits and three walks.
First baseman Pete Alonso said the Orioles are not ready to panic.
“Just because you have a slow start doesn’t mean anything toward the end,” said Alonso, a key offseason signing. “There’s plenty of teams that have proven that over the course of time.
“It’d be great to go out and win nine in a row, or however many games. But this is a marathon, and we have plenty of opportunities and chances to get better and win a lot of ballgames.”
Alonso had an RBI double on Sunday.
–Field Level Media
