Johnny Cueto was terrific in Game 1 of Sunday’s doubleheader in opposition to the New York Yankees.
Michael Kopech was even higher in Game 2 because the Chicago White Sox swept the twinbill, beating the Yankees 3-1 and 5-0.
“What a day,” Sox supervisor Tony La Russa stated.
Cueto allowed six hits in six-plus scoreless innings at Yankee Stadium however didn’t issue within the choice. The Sox gave up a late lead solely to reply with two within the ninth for the Game 1 win.
Kopech retired the primary 17 batters in Game 2. Rob Brantly broke up the proper sport with a two-out double within the sixth.
“I felt like everything was working today,” stated Kopech, who lowered his ERA to 1.29. “The first time this season that’s been the case. It was good to go on the market and really feel assured with each pitch I threw.
“I try to be perfect every time and I know that’s never going to be the case, but I feel like if I can hold on to that little bit as deep as I can into the game, then I’ll be in a good position. And I was able to do that for a lot of the day.”
Kopech — who returned from the paternity depart checklist after the delivery Friday of his second son, Vander — allowed one hit with six strikeouts and two walks in seven scoreless innings.
“Kopech made so many great pitches and mixed them up great,” La Russa stated. “He had so much command. When you see that, I don’t care how good the hitters are, they’re going to have a tough time.”
The Sox scored 5 with two outs within the eighth on RBI hits by Andrew Vaughn and Reese McGuire and a three-run residence run by shortstop Tim Anderson — his third hit of the sport.
“This guy is as good as anybody playing at that position and one of the best players in baseball,” La Russa stated of Anderson.
Vaughn got here via with two outs, singling to middle in opposition to Jonathan Loáisiga to deliver residence José Abreu. McGuire adopted with one other single, bringing in Adam Engel.
Anderson — who was booed all through the evening by Yankees followers after Saturday’s phrases with Josh Donaldson and a bench-clearing incident — then homered in opposition to Miguel Castro.
“Tim’s going to show up every day ready to play and lead this team,” Kopech stated. “And he did that again tonight.”
In the primary sport, AJ Pollock put the Sox forward within the ninth with a leadoff homer to left on a 1-0 fastball from Yankees reliever Aroldis Chapman.
“You’ve got to stay short to him,” Pollock stated. “He’s got some good velocity, good cut on his fastball, so just trying to hit a line drive and it worked out.”
Vaughn drew a one-out stroll, moved to second on a wild pitch and to 3rd on a handed ball earlier than scoring on a double by Engel, making it 3-1. Liam Hendriks struck out two in an ideal ninth for his thirteenth save.
It was a pleasant bounce-back efficiency by the Sox after the Yankees tied the rating at 1 within the eighth when Aaron Judge homered to left on an 0-2 sinker in opposition to reliever Kendall Graveman.
The Yankees put two on with one out within the inning, however Graveman rebounded to get Donaldson to fly out to middle and Aaron Hicks to come out to 3rd.
“Most times when you do that, (you) lose your concentration and there is another run on the board,” La Russa stated of Graveman. “He got the zero afterward, gave us a chance to win.”
Cueto put the Sox in a superb place early.
“I had good command of all my pitches today and they had very good movement and I was able to locate them up and down the zone,” Cueto, who was receiving fluids within the aftermath of Game 1, stated in a press release. “That was the key to keep the Yankees off-balanced today.”
The Sox went forward 1-0 on an RBI single by Yasmani Grandal within the fourth.
And Cueto stored “dealing,” as Pollock stated. He struck out 5 and walked two within the 95-pitch outing.
“He’s been awesome for us,” Pollock stated. “Works fast and has all sorts of pitches to get them off-balanced. Shimmy shake (delivery). It’s awesome to play behind him. It’s great having him out there for the first game of a doubleheader because of the tone he just set for us.”
Cueto has pitched 12 scoreless innings, the third-longest streak for a Sox starter firstly of his tenure with the crew since 1974, based on STATS. Ken Brett pitched 17 scoreless innings in 1976 and Jack McDowell went 13 innings in 1987.
Cueto allowed two hits and struck out seven in six scoreless innings in opposition to the Royals.
“He’s an artist,” La Russa stated. “It’s fun to watch him pitch a game. And that’s what he’s been, an outstanding starting pitcher, because he gives you a different look four times in a game.”
Cueto exited after permitting two singles to start the seventh. Joe Kelly struck out Marwin Gonzalez, picked off Hicks at second and struck out Jose Trevino to keep up the one-run lead.
“Kelly was just perfect,” La Russa stated.
The Yankees acquired the run within the eighth, however Pollock got here although with the large hit within the ninth to present the Sox what La Russa known as a “hard-earned” victory.
The Sox made it two-for-two Sunday with extra stellar pitching and clutch hitting.
“It just shows we have that in us,” Vaughn stated, “and we’ve just got to keep going and keep building off of it.”
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