Shuck Has Go-Ahead Hit In 8th, Gives White Sox 1st Win
CHICAGO (AP) — Pinch-hitter J.B. Shuck had a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning Saturday to give the Chicago White Sox their first win of the season, 5-4 over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday afternoon.
Shuck lined a 1-1 pitch from reliever Blaine Boyer (0-1) with two outs, scoring Alexei Ramirez. Conor Gillaspie was thrown out at the plate as he tried to score from second.
Former Yankees closer David Robertson struck out the side in the ninth for his first save with Chicago. The White Sox lost their first four games.
Left-hander Zach Duke (1-0) worked a scoreless eighth for the win.
In his first home start for the White Sox, Jeff Samardzija gave up four runs and eight hits in seven innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.
White Sox first baseman Adam LaRoche broke out of a 1-for-14 slump with his first home run of the season, leading off the second against Mike Pelfrey.
The Twins sent eight men to the plate in the second as Samardzija gave up four runs and five hits, including two for extra bases. Chris Herrmann tripled in a run while second baseman Brian Dozier doubled home another in a 35-pitch inning for Samardzija.
The White Sox loaded the bases with none out in the third but managed just one run on Avisail Garcia's infield single.
But Plouffe then executed a double play with a ground out at third and throw to Herrmann for the first two outs while Gillaspie grounded to second for the third. But Ramirez grounded into a double play and Gillaspie grounded out to end the inning.
Geovany Soto tied it 4-all with a leadoff home run to left in the fourth, his first of the year.
Pelfrey departed after five innings, yielding four runs and seven hits. He walked one and struck out two.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: RHP Ricky Nolasco went on the 15-day disabled list (right elbow inflammation) and RHP Trevor May was called up from Triple-A Rochester and will start Monday's home opener against Kansas City. ... Twins RHP Casey Fien felt better after experiencing right shoulder stiffness Friday. "Obviously you're not going to put a guy out there and put him in jeopardy if you don't have to," manager Paul Molitor said.
White Sox: Manager Robin Ventura is not concerned that Sale has faced only minor leaguers while recovering from a broken right foot. "He's the guy I want going out there tomorrow, I don't care if he's faced a hitter or not," Ventura said. ... Chicago reinstated LHP Eric Surkamp from the 15-day disabled list (upper back strain) and assigned him to Triple-A Charlotte.
UP NEXT
White Sox LHP Chris Sale returns from the disabled list (right foot fracture) for his season debut Sunday. Sale went was 12-4 with a 2.17 ERA last year and is 6-1 with 2.45 ERA all-time against the Twins. Minnesota RHP Phil Hughes (0-1, 6.00 ERA) makes his 12th career start and 16th appearance against Chicago.
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