The Chicago White Sox faced a tough challenge against the Diamondbacks. Another starting pitcher struggled in the first inning. The Diamondbacks’ offence, led by Ildemaro Vargas, proved too much.
Diamondbacks Dominate Early Innings
Eduardo Rodriguez gave up two runs in the first inning. The Diamondbacks then scored four times in the second and added three more over the next couple of innings. They led the Chicago White Sox, 8-4, as play continued in the fifth inning.
Vargas hit a three-run shot in the second and a two-run blast in the fourth. He extended his hitting streak to 17 games this season. His hitting streak is at 20 games dating to the end of last year.
Vargas is hitting .375 with five homers and an 1.113 OPS.
Rodriguez allowed a home run to Miguel Vargas in the third and another to Colson Montgomery in the fourth. Through four innings, he allowed four earned runs on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts.
Moreno’s Return Imminent
Gabriel Moreno continues to trend toward a speedy return. Manager Torey Lovullo said on Wednesday, April 22, that his catcher could be reinstated from the injured list next week.
“There’s a chance he could join us soon and that looks like it could be sometime in Milwaukee,” Lovullo said, referring to the club’s April 28-30 series against the Brewers.
Moreno still has some boxes to check before he returns, Lovullo said. Lovullo added, “I don’t usually give you the end date of the timeline unless I feel strongly about it.”
Lovullo said Moreno, who is out with a left oblique strain, still needs to ramp up the intensity in certain drills. Moreno caught bullpen sessions for rehabbing pitchers Corbin Burnes and A.J. Puk on Tuesday, April 21.
“He said he’s been swinging it and he feels good and there’s no issue, no deficit, no pain, and everything is trending in a very positive direction,” Lovullo said. “We’ll get him there in the next couple of days.”
Moreno has been on the 10-day injured list retroactive to April 11, so he already is eligible to return.
Rodriguez’s Performance and History
Rodriguez had his first less-than-stellar outing of the year last week in Baltimore, where he gave up four runs in five innings. Before that, he had given up two runs (one earned) in a combined 18 innings over his first three starts.
Rodriguez has made 11 starts against the White Sox in his career, posting a 3.05 ERA in 65 innings.
The early velocity bump that Rodriguez was showing in spring training and in the World Baseball Classic has dissipated. He is sitting at 91.6 mph with his four-seam fastball, which is down from last year’s 92 mph average.
A first-round pick by the Mets in 2016, Kay pitched briefly in the majors for three different teams from 2019-23 before heading to Japan. With Yokohama the past two years, he logged a 2.49 ERA in 303 1/3 innings, then returned to the States this winter, landing a two-year, $12 million deal.
He has started twice and pitched twice in long relief.