Johnny Cueto was terrific in his Chicago White Sox debut final Monday in Kansas City.
He was much more spectacular in his second begin of the season Sunday in opposition to the New York Yankees.
The veteran right-hander allowed six hits in six-plus scoreless innings at Yankee Stadium however didn’t issue within the determination. The Sox gave up a late lead solely to reply with two within the ninth for a 3-1 victory in Game 1 of a doubleheader.
“He’s an artist,” Sox supervisor Tony 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.”
Michael Kopech was even higher in Game 2, retiring the primary 17 batters because the Sox accomplished the sweep with a 5-0 victory. Rob Brantly broke up the right sport with a two-out double within the sixth.
Kopech — who returned from the paternity depart listing after the start Friday of his second son, Vander — allowed one hit with six strikeouts and two walks in seven scoreless innings.
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 Tim Anderson.
The Sox had ample alternatives to attain earlier, however Yankees starter Luis Severino labored out of hassle a number of instances.
Their greatest alternative in opposition to Severino got here within the fifth once they loaded the bases with no outs. Anderson grounded to 3rd and the Yankees acquired the power on the plate. Yoán Moncada then bounced to first and once more the Yankees acquired the power on the plate. Luis Robert struck out to finish the inning.
Vaughn got here by means of with two outs within the eighth, singling to middle in opposition to Jonathan Loáisiga to carry 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.
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 wonderful 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 an announcement. “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 at first of his tenure with the staff 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.
“When (general manager) Rick (Hahn) mentioned that we were going to be able to bring him into the organization, he has a special relationship with our pitching coach (Ethan Katz) because they were in San Francisco together (in 2020),” La Russa stated. “Ethan was watching the videos (before Cueto’s arrival from Triple-A Charlotte) and said, ‘Man, he’s throwing free and easy. That’s vintage stuff.’”
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 take care of 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 referred to as a “hard-earned” victory.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com