Geovany Soto, Matt Davidson Power White Sox To 11-2 Win Over Tigers
CHICAGO (AP) — Matt Davidson had his first career triple and first home run as a member of the Chicago White Sox in an 11-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday.
Geovany Soto, the catcher who joined the White Sox as a free agent this offseason, added his first two home runs for Chicago to help give Rick Renteria his first victory as the team's manager.
James Shields (1-0) threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and striking out five. It was a positive start following a rough season last year after Chicago acquired the right-hander in a trade with San Diego. He went 4-12 with a 6.77 ERA.
Shields allowed Tyler Collins' solo homer in the second inning to open the scoring, but the Tigers managed only four hits.
The Chicago output escalated from two runs in the second inning, to three in the third and four in the fourth in sunny conditions after rain washed out two starts between the teams this week.
Soto's three-run home run in the third made it 5-1 and chased left-hander Matthew Boyd (0-1).
Anibal Sanchez struggled in relief, also giving up five runs. Sanchez gave up Davidson's blast to left-center field in the fourth inning for a 9-1 lead.
Dan Jennings, Michael Ynoa and Tommy Kahnle combined for 3 2/3 innings of relief, giving up two hits and an unearned run.
Alex Avila had an RBI double in the eighth inning in his first at-bat back with the Tigers after playing with the White Sox last season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said part of the reason RHP Jordan Zimmermann was moved back in the rotation from Thursday to Saturday after Wednesday's rainout was because of illness. "Zimm was sick a couple days ago, he was throwing up," Ausmus said. "I figured we could give him some extra days and get him back to full strength."
White Sox: The White Sox placed right-handed reliever Jake Petricka on the 10-day disabled list before the game because of a strained right lat. Kahnle, a right-hander, was called up from Triple-A Charlotte.
UP NEXT
Tigers: RHP Michael Fulmer (11-7, 3.06 ERA last season), who started briefly in Triple-A Toledo last year before winning the American League Rookie of the Year award, gets the ball for the home opener Friday against the Boston Red Sox.
White Sox: LHP Derek Holland (7-9, 4.95) will make his White Sox debut Friday as the homestand continues against the Minnesota Twins.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.