Levine: White Sox Come Back For First Victory Of Season
By Bruce Levine--
U.S. CELLULAR FIELD (CBS) -- The five-game wait might not have been worth it, but the first win of the 2015 season was a relief for the Chicago White Sox. Seven of the team's 13 new players contributed in the come-from-behind 5-4 win over the Twins on Saturday.
In his second start of the season, Jeff Samardzija allowed four runs in the second and then proceeded to throw five shutout innings. Samardzija got off the hook as his club fought back to tie the game behind solo home runs from fellow newcomers Adam LaRoche and Geovany Soto. Both players hit their first home runs in a White Sox uniform.
Samardzija got a no-decision but did manage to get through seven innings, keeping his club in the game.
"You know I was in the middle of the plate too much in that (second) inning," Samardzija said after his team won on J..B Shuck's pinch-hit, run-scoring single in the eighth inning. "I was being aggressive and trying to get quick outs. I had to make an adjustment and try to hit the corners. I will get beat with singles and doubles (over long balls). I love the way I came back and got the ball on the edges. I got my stuff down."
Altogether, seven new players on this 2015 squad made contributions, including all three pitchers used in the victory. Chicago spent a total of $72 million on Samardzija, setup man Zach Duke and closer David Robertson in the offseason. All three did their job and in the win.
After an injury-laden, shaky spring training, Robertson was dominant in the ninth. He struck out the side for his first Chicago save.
"I had a lot of help with the shadows creeping in," Robertson said. "I did not want this to slip away considering how hard the guys fought to get the lead. I was feeling really good and had some real adrenaline going."
The most rewarding part of the new kids on the block contributions was Duke's shutout inning and the impressive Robertson exclamation point to the win.
"That is the best inning he has had even counting spring training," manager Robin Ventura said of Robertson. "He had not shown all of his stuff and the curveball at all. That is a devastating pitch. It was good to see."
Duke got the win in relief. The White Sox, including the brass and coaching staff, were able to let out a big sigh of relief of their own after starting the season with four straight losses.
"This obviously wasn't the start that we wanted," Samardzija said. "Sometimes you are so hyped and excited, you press too much. We saw all facets of the game we can play today. Great defense with Melky (Cabrera) and Alexei (Ramirez) in the fifth for me. The bullpen pitched great and we put some runs on the board. It was a great win for the team. I was just happy to be a part of it."