Daniel Murphy hit a leadoff home run and that was all the damage Reynaldo Lopez allowed in the series-opener against the Cubs. The right-hander pitched seven innings, allowing just one run on that homer and five hits, while striking out eight, as Lopez led the White Sox to a dominating 10-4 win.
Lopez now has a 3.94 ERA this season and ever since he only pitched two innings on Aug. 19, he’s been amazing for the White Sox.
Last six starts for Reynaldo López, who has probably done enough for the day:
39.2 IP, 24 H, 5 ER, 9 BB, 43 K, 2 HR. That is a 1.13 ERA.
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) September 21, 2018
He’s had some struggles at times during the year, especially in July, but overall the White Sox have to love Lopez’s development during his first full MLB season.
Spoiler alert: Reynaldo deals. Hawk says "He gone!" a lot. pic.twitter.com/mSNblI8619
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 21, 2018
Meanwhile for the Cubs, Jose Quintana made his first start against the White Sox and despite a good opening inning, the White Sox quickly got to him in the second inning. Quintana allowed five straight hits in the second, including a three-run homer by Kevan Smith.
Kevan Smith wanted to make sure he got one more Hawk call! pic.twitter.com/m93g2zcHOH
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 21, 2018
It was all White Sox from that point forward.
Quintana allowed a fourth run in the fourth and then in the sixth, Daniel Palka smashed a pinch-hit, two run bomb against Dillon Maples.
PINCH HIT
PINCH HI
PINCH H
PINCH
PINC
PIN
PI
P
PA
PAL
PALK
PALKA pic.twitter.com/gnf6BpMm8f— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 21, 2018
After that the White Sox piled on and made it a blowout on the South Side and recorded 19 hits.
By the way, how about Palka coming out of nowhere this season.
Daniel Palka hit his 27th HR earlier, giving him the most by a rookie in #MLB this season.
Only 2 @whitesox players have hit more home runs in their rookie season in franchise history.
Both went on to win Rookie of the Year:
José Abreu hit 36 in 2014
Ron Kittle hit 35 in 1983 pic.twitter.com/UyPnhewDP1— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 21, 2018
Lucas Giolito will start on Saturday for the White Sox, squaring off against Jon Lester.
